Dragons: Western Style

Traditionally western dragon tales are not about dragons at all, but rather about the heroes who slay them. Wings and fire breathing are ubiquitous for western dragons. They fly using aerodynamics. The number of limbs varies (note it might not be a dragon, see the related wyvrns and wyrms) but having 6 limbs (two of them wings) is a definite western trait and it also clearly establishes them as an unnatural creature. Western dragons are variously bipedal or semi-bipedal. Exclusively quadrupedal western dragons are a modern phenomenon. Undulation is an extremely rare locomotion as well. They often have a treasure horde and often depicted as evil, demonic, or satanic. It is common for them to kidnap princesses or virgin maidens to keep as treasure or even as a meal. Only in modern fiction are their benevolent western dragons although Bulgarian mythology describes some dragons as less than evil or even friendly towards human for their own purposes. Modern fiction has also attributed near to above human intelligence and wisdom to western dragons.
Parent

• Dragons

Contrast

• Eastern Dragons

Related

• Wyverns
• Wyrms
• Basilisks