PsiKnot

I recently watched a program regarding the flying and fire breating aspect of "dragons". It is theorized that a bacteria in the digetive system produced hydrogen as a byproduct of it's own digestion. The "dragon" had a lung like organ for trapping these hydrogen emitions. By harvesting the hydrogen the beast greatly reduced it's own weight making it possible to fly with relatively small wings. This hydrogen could also be used as a weapon but at the cost of the whole lighter than air thing. I had to leave to go to work before they revealed what they thought was the ignition source for the fire breathing, though i'm pretty sure it was some kid of chemical reaction.

__________________

Thinking is the leading cause of death among the stupid.
Signature and Avatar made by Zackraa. Thanks!

glacier

The bacteria, methanogen, is bacteria that survive, live and produce heat, or in this case fire. The lung in dragon's chest contain hydrogen. These hydrogen also help dragon to fly. When hydrogen and this methana (gas) meet, it makes fire. Some thought dragon has some mechanical valve like reptile who prevent water (dragon-> fire) enter their lung system. That's why the theory of dragon burst fire could be true. BUt what if the dragon doesnt hv the valve? The other thought said that dragon doesnt need any valve. Like circus ppl who can burst fire. They dont hv valve but they throat not burned.
The enviroment thousands yr ago also different. The plant, meat and also water also influenced this methanogen. SOme dragon in asia cnt burst fire bcz they dont need to burst fire. The climate in Asia, approximately, not too cold like in North europe.
Well...that's mine...

__________________

divine_punishment

Dragons crop up in legends all over the world; I daresay something akin or similar to a dragon once existed (dinosaurs, while they did not live at the same time as humans, might count). I had an English teacher several years ago who believed that unicorns once existed. Her theory went something like this:
Scientists have found horse skeletons dating back aeons. Rhinocerous horns are made of keratin (like fingernails) and decay when the animal dies. Is it so far a stretch to think that maybe unicorns once existed, that they were the bones discovered, and the legendary horn of the unicorn has long since decomposed?

I wonder if this could also apply to dragons? Some sort of primal lizard that spat a poison that burned the flesh, perhaps?

__________________

Arrianna

Unicorns are even easier to explain then that. The reason being that a half sheep half goat was born a few years ago with a single horn in the middle of it's forehead. If you go and look at the tapestries the unicorns are remarkably goat like. Also at that time period they would deliberately place male goats in the sheep herds to help protect them against natural predators. Under those circumstances it's not to hard to believe more hybrids with single horns would be born. Rare, probably, but still not unlikely.

__________________

l Stone Hold l Now We're Cooking! l Thanks to Kaos for the awesome sig!

PsiKnot

I've seen lots of movies with unicorns, never have they looked like a goat. Hollywood would never misslead me, you must be mistaken.

__________________

Thinking is the leading cause of death among the stupid.
Signature and Avatar made by Zackraa. Thanks!

Namida Goddess

I don't believe that dragons persay exist but maybe at one time creatures did exist that were blown out of proportion by people who did not understand what they were seeing. These misproportions of size and ability were passed down and people started to believe that they were real.

__________________

divine_punishment

Kind of like how "mermaids" turned out to be walruses? (Personally, I think it would take a great deal more than scurvy and sunstroke to confuse a bloated mammal with a gorgeous woman . . .)

__________________

PsiKnot

Don't forget that they drank mostly rum and beer while at sea.

__________________

Thinking is the leading cause of death among the stupid.
Signature and Avatar made by Zackraa. Thanks!