RarityDash

Dragons are a moderately rare species of sentient, intelligent reptilian beings known to be incredibly long lived--though the exact extent of their lifespan is unknown. They are born from eggs, and when first born no larger than a newborn foal. They are known to grow quickly, however, and the vast majority of known dragons are considerably larger than any pony. At the largest observed, dragons are known to tower high over trees and buildings, though the limits to just how large they can grow are presently unknown. According to wisdom passed to pony scholars from zebra sages, dragon growth is in at least some capacity tied to their propensities for greed. It is said that even dragons young in years can grow considerably and quite spontaneously with the onset of intense greed. It is believed that this is only one component of their growth, however, and that dragons can grow large gradually from age as well.

Dragons vary greatly not only in size but also in shape. Pony researchers have in general made no real effort to classify dragons by shape, as significant biological differences between them would be near impossible to determine. The one distinction that is made, as it is clearly apparent, is the presence or absence of wings. Dragons thus tend to be grouped into two distinct categories: winged sky dragons and wingless earth dragons. Due to some similarities in appearance and physical characteristics, some researchers consider sea serpents as a third category of dragon, which they dub sea dragons, though others believe they should be classified separately. Aside from the presence or absence of wings, sky and earth dragons are thought to be quite similar though earth dragons seem to be rarer. Some argue that this is only because sky dragons are more visible due to flight, however.

Incredibly formidable creatures, few creatures are known to exist which could ever hope of matching a dragon in power. Even excusing their generally immense size, a dragon's weapons are manifold. Their claws are impossibly sharp, capable of cutting through most known materials with ease while their teeth are thought to be somehow sharper still. Dragons can also breathe flames at will and their rock hard scales make them virtually impervious to the elements or anything that might mean them harm. Dragons are believed to be capable of eating and digesting virtually anything they come across, but, luckily for ponykind, precious gems seem to be their preferred food.

Dragons generally live in the more mountainous regions of the world. The Badlands Region north of Aquellia and Equestria seem to have more dragons than most regions, though dragons have been spotted everywhere from the Raptorclaw Canyons to the Roughrider Ridge and Unysasi's Mwamba. Though intelligent and perfectly capable of conversation, as creature prone to intense greed, most larger dragons elect to live in isolation, keeping hoards and sleeping for decades or even centuries at a time. As such there is not a dragon society in any real sense, though they are known to congregate at times together--the most notable such occasion being the Great Migration, an event which occurs every few years in which sky dragons flock to the Dragon's Peak Region north of the Roughrider Ridge. Events like the Great Migration are thought to be especially important for teen and young adult dragons who have not given completely into greed yet and still choose to form social groups with each other.

~Canterlot Research Journal