Science About Dragons That Can Fly and Breathe Fire
Despite popular belief, dragons that can fly and breathe fire in the actual world are not impossible.
You may have heard that dragons only exist in legends. After all, a soaring, flame-spitting reptile seems impossible in the actual world. It's true that no fossils of fire-breathing dragons have ever been found, yet lizard-like flying reptiles do appear in the record. Today, it is possible to locate a few in the wild. Study the science behind how birds fly and how a dragon may theoretically spew fire.
Is There a Limit to the Size of a Flying Dragon?
Scientists believe that current birds are direct descendants of flying dinosaurs, thus the question of whether dragons could fly is settled. One major concern is whether or not they may grow to predatory sizes and threaten humans and domesticated animals. To answer your question, yes, they were at one point in time.
One of the largest known flying animals was the Late Cretaceous pterosaur Quetzlcoatlus northropi. Its size is unknown for sure, although even the most cautious estimations put its wingspan at 11 metres (36 feet) and its weight at roughly 200 to 250 kilogrammes (440 to 550 pounds). It was almost the same size and weight as a current tiger, which is more than capable of killing a man or a goat.
The reason that today's birds aren't as massive as dinosaurs is a topic of much speculation. Some researchers have hypothesised that the amount of effort needed to keep feathers in good condition is what ultimately determines their size. Changes in the Earth's temperature and air composition are cited by some.
You're About to See a Modern, Actual Flying Dragon
Ancient dragons might have easily carried off a human or sheep, but today's dragons only consume insects, birds, and occasionally small animals. The iguanas are a kind of lizard in the family of Agamidae. Bearded dragons, Chinese water dragons, and the wild genus Draco are all members of the same family.
Dragons with wings are called Draco spp. Draco really is an expert glider. The lizards can cover lengths of up to 60 metres (200 feet) by flattening their limbs and extending wing-like flaps. The lizards' tail and neck flap (gular flag) help them to maintain their balance and regulate their speed of fall. These live flying dragons are widely distributed throughout South Asia. You have nothing to fear because even the largest of these creatures only reach a maximum length of 20 centimetres (7.9 inches).
Without Wings, Dragons Can Fly
In contrast to the enormous winged animals depicted in European folklore, the Asian kind of dragon is more comparable to a serpent with legs. Although most people associate snakes with the ground, several species are capable of long-distance flight into the air. How far away are we talking about? That's the equivalent of flying twice the length of an Olympic swimming pool or the length of a soccer field! To maximise lift, snakes of the genus Chrysopelea in Asia flatten their bodies and twist, allowing them to "fly" up to 100 metres (330 feet). Researchers have determined that a 25-degree angle, with the snake's head pointing above and the tail pointing below, is best for a serpentine glide.
There was no way for a wingless dragon to really fly, yet it could glide for a very long distance. A means of storing gases that are less dense than air might allow the animal to learn to fly.
Just how Dragons Got Their Fire Breath
To this day, no fire-breathing creatures have been discovered. It's not out of the question, though, that certain animals may produce fire. The abdomen of a bombardier beetle (family Carabidae) contains hydroquinones and hydrogen peroxide, which the beetle ejects when it feels threatened. The chemicals react exothermically (producing heat) in the air, blasting the perpetrator with a hot, unpleasant fluid.
When you think about it, all living things constantly generate combustible, reactive chemicals and catalysts. People, too, take in more oxygen than they need. Hydrogen peroxide is an ordinary by-product of metabolism. For proper digestion, acid is required. Methane is a highly combustible digestive byproduct. Catalases make chemical processes more efficient.
A dragon may stockpile the materials, wait for the right moment to release them, and then eject them with great force before setting them ablaze chemically or mechanically. Crushing together piezoelectric crystals might be all that's needed to create a spark for mechanical ignition. Animals, like combustible liquids, already include piezoelectric elements. Tooth enamel and dentin, dry bone, and tendons are other examples.
Therefore, it is conceivable to breathe fire. Although no evidence of this capacity has been found, that doesn't rule out the possibility that other species may have evolved this capability before our own. While it's possible that a fire-shooting creature might have a specific structure in its mouth, the anus is also a plausible location.
That's Not a Dragon, I Say!
It's safe to say that the movie dragon with a suit of heavy armour is a fabrication. A dragon would be cumbersome due to its heavy scales, spines, horns, and other bone protuberances. But if your perfect dragon has short wings, rest assured that science still doesn't have all the answers. In fact, it wasn't until 2001 that researchers figured out how bumblebees fly.
To sum up, your definition of a dragon determines whether or whether it flies, eats humans, or breathes fire.
Important Points
Modern and extinct avian "dragons" coexist in the fossil record. These creatures exist in the real world, not in fiction.
Dragons without wings couldn't "fly" in the conventional sense, but they could glide over great distances without breaking any physical rules.
The ability to breathe fire is undocumented in the animal kingdom but not impossible. The volatile substances produced by many organisms can be stored, released, and set ablaze by a chemical or mechanical spark.
Posts. (n.d.). Thoughtco. . Retrieved July 11, 2022, from https://www.thoughtco.com/the-science-behind-flying-and-fire-breathing-dragons-4163130