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Discover dragons from the 13th century to modern movies & games
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The dragon is the most popular mythical creature in all of human history and has been storytellers' favorite beast to write about and illustrate for centuries. But did you know there's more than one type of dragon? Come with us to discover 12 different types of dragons and learn about unique dragons from your favourite television series, films, and games.
4 Main Dragon Types (Mythical)
- Dragon: Winged four-legged dragon depicted in most fantasy stories
- Wyvern: A dragon with two back legs and two wings in the front
- Drake: A small wingless dragon with four legs
- Wyrm: A wormlike dragon with no wings or legs
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Section 2 of 5:
In-Depth Guide to the 12 Different Kinds of Dragons in Myth & History
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1Dragon The dragon is the traditional type depicted in European heraldry and fantasy stories since the 13th century. It has four legs with claws on each foot, a powerfully built body, two expansive wings, a long snout, and horns or crests on top of its head. Its entire body is covered in scales, which range in colors all across the rainbow spectrum.
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2Drake A drake is smaller than a traditional dragon and has no wings. It has four legs and walks closer to the ground, similar to a reptile. The name is derived from the Greek word drakon and the Latin word draco, which is also where the word "dragon" comes from.[1] For that reason, "drake" and "dragon" are often used interchangeably, but they are still two distinct subspecies.
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3Wyvern A wyvern has two back legs and wings instead of front legs. Its body is long and sinuous, and its equally long, skinny tail is usually pointed. "Wyvern" originates in the Latin word vipera, meaning viper, which explains why its tail resembles that of a snake more than a regular dragon.[2]
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4Wyrm A wyrm is a long, serpentlike dragon with no limbs and no wings. Its head is the only body part that resembles what we tend to think of as a dragon, with its long muzzle, sharp teeth, and crests. "Wyrm" is also another word that ancient Europeans used to refer to dragons and serpents in general.[3]
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5Cockatrice According to English mythology, the cockatrice was born in an egg laid by a cock that was later hatched by a serpent. It has two front wings instead of front legs, two back legs, and a long snakelike tail. From the neck up, it resembles a rooster, complete with feathers and a beak. This type possesses special powers, namely the ability to turn anyone they look at into stone, and often appeared in European heraldry (i.e., symbols of the nobility in medieval times).[4]
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6Amphiptere The amphiptere is a dragon with a long, snaky body and two enormous wings that look like bat wings but no other limbs. According to some myths, this creature may have hypnotic powers, which it uses to guard treasure from humans. It was also depicted in heraldry for some of the nobility in Europe.
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7Quetzalcoatl Quetzalcoatl is an enormous "sky dragon" with plumes of feathers around his head.[5] Instead of being viewed as an enemy of humans like most dragons, Quetzalcoatl was worshipped as a deity by the ancient Teotihuacán, Toltec, and Aztec cultures in Mexico. He has had various powers and ruled over different elements over the centuries. For example, the Teotihuacán believed he was a god of vegetation, whereas both the Toltecs and the Aztecs revered him as a god of the morning and evening star.[6]
- The Aztecs also attributed several important inventions to Quetzalcoatl, including the calendar and books. He was also a patron of priests and a protector of artisans.
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8Sea Serpent A sea serpent is a huge snakelike creature with no limbs or wings that reportedly lives in large bodies of water. It has a long and storied history, having been mentioned in the Bible (as the Leviathan) and referenced in ancient Babylonian, Hittite, and Canaanite texts as various types of dragons and monsters. Though it's considered a myth or a legend, countless sailors over the millennia have reported seeing it in the water – though they may have mistaken it for other large marine animals, like the giant squid.[7]
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9Lindwurm The lindwurm has three popular depictions. The first features only two front legs (no back legs), no wings, and a long body, which it holds close to the ground like a snake. The second possesses four legs and no wings, and the third has all four legs and two wings. Most sources say it lives in forests or marshes. Not much is known about its personality, except that it seems to have enmity toward humans.
- In Austria, the city of Klagenfurt was supposedly founded in the 13th century after a lindwurm began terrorizing the locals. The duke that reigned over the area built a tower and had his knights kill the dragon.[8]
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10Salamander The salamander is a type of dragon with a large, flat head, a stodgy body, and four short legs. Its tail is about as long as its body and sometimes ends in a point or a frill. It's most commonly associated with fire and typically has the ability to lie down in flames for significant periods of time without burning up. Some legends also say that the salamander dragon produces poisonous breath or excretions.
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11Chinese Dragon The Chinese dragon has a long, sinuous, snakelike body with a particularly large snout and eyes and prominent crests around its head. It's been a popular figure in Chinese mythology and iconography for centuries and is associated with strength, power, good luck, prosperity, and water. Most of the time, they're depicted as wingless, yet they're still able to fly – one of many mysterious powers attributed to this powerful dragon type.[9]
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12Hydra The hydra is a dragon-like monster with varying numbers of heads protruding from its torso. In ancient Greek mythology, the legendary demigod Hercules fought the hydra as part of his 12 Labors, which he had to perform as penance for a crime he committed. This beast has the unique ability to grow two heads when one head is cut off, making it a particularly nasty and challenging foe.[10]
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References
- ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dragon
- ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wyvern
- ↑ https://www.etymonline.com/word/worm
- ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/cockatrice
- ↑ https://read.dukeupress.edu/hahr/article/63/1/168/148604/The-Phoenix-of-the-Western-World-Quetzalcoatl-and
- ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/Quetzalcoatl
- ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/sea-serpent
- ↑ https://www.austria.org/wahrzeichen/klagenfurt
- ↑ https://library.miracosta.edu/lunar_new_year_2016/dragon
- ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hydra-Greek-mythology
- ↑ https://dragons.fandom.com/wiki/Dragons:List_of_Dragon_Species_from_How_To_Train_Your_Dragon
- ↑ https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Dragon
- ↑ https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Dragon
- ↑ https://elderscrolls.fandom.com/wiki/Dragons_(Lore)#Types_of_dragons
- ↑ https://elderscrolls.fandom.com/wiki/Dragonborn_(Lore)
- ↑ https://eldenring.fandom.com/wiki/Dragon
- ↑ https://bdaman.fandom.com/wiki/Legendary_Dragons
- ↑ https://cookierunovenbreak.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Dragon_Cookie
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This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards.
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Updated: December 22, 2024
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