Real Species that Resemble Dragons

For millennia, dragons have featured in the mythology, folktales, art and historical accounts of cultures as diverse as those of Egypt, India, Europe, China and Africa. European dragons are fearsome fire-belching reptiles, part lizard, part snake and part bat. Their favorite pastime is to destroy cities, devour maidens and stand guard over treasure hidden in mountain caves. South American cultures have their own version of the dreaded dragon – a divine flying serpent with the power to restore the world after every cycle of destruction. The Chinese dragon is a water-dwelling creature that confers fertility and fortune on the deserving; an amphibious patchwork of eagle-like talons, stag-like antlers and a body that remains enveloped in flames.

Despite the differences, dragons belonging to disparate cultures have characteristics that can be found in many animal, bird and reptile species that actually exist today. Here is a far-from-comprehensive list of creatures that could well qualify as cousins to the awe-inspiring dragon.

The Komodo Dragon

Easily the top contender for the position of First Cousin-to-the-Dragon, the Komodo Dragon also has the distinction of being the largest lizard in the world. Inhabitants of the Southern Indonesian islands, these powerful reptiles have sharp claws and teeth that are capable of administering lethally toxic bites. So that explains the name. In fact, the Komodo dragon could very well have been the inspiration for stories and sightings of the European dragon – except that it was only discovered by Europeans in 1910.

The Bearded Dragon

This dragon lookalike from Down Under is a woodland native with a number of spiky protuberances around the head and the ability to inflate a pouch underneath its chin in order to intimidate its enemies. But if the tactic doesn’t work, the bearded dragon is equally capable of rearing up on its hind legs and making a dash for safety. This interesting creature can produce a mild form of venom which is harmless to humans and most other animals.

The Paradise Tree Snake

The dragon’s serpentine cousin is an agile climber found mostly in Thailand, Singapore and

Paradise Tree Snake

other Southeast Asian countries. The Paradise Tree Snake is a tree-dweller with the uncanny ability to change its shape from convex to concave as it glides and parachutes its way from one high branch to another. As it launches itself through the air, the snake writhes to and fro, resembling an undulating snake on the ground. The species is not very aggressive but its rear fangs are poisonous and they mostly feed on small mammals, birds and lizards.