Plate Dragons! AKA PDs
Plate Dragon:
A Plate Dragon is a subspecies of dragon! They have "Plates" on the side of their cheeks and on their butts! They also have scales around their bodies such as on their faces, legs, and tail! Another unique feature are the "spikes" on the end of their tails and horns that can range in many different shapes and sizes that are used for protection and battle. They usually live in jungles or forests but can be found anywhere. They are extremely venomous, and can projectile their venom when in danger! They use this tactic when feeling threatened or scared so as long as you have good intentions they wont hurt you! Plate Dragons usually grow to be the size of a Tiger. Ranging in size from 6 to 10 feet long and weighing between 230 and 700 pounds. The average lifespan of a Plate Dragon is 20 - 500 years! Although they cannot usually fly, PDs are excellent runners and swimmers!
Groups:
A group of Plate Dragons is called a "Platter". Usually Plate Dragons travel in pairs. But most times they form a "Platter". Much like wolves in a pack, they run on an alpha system. Socially structured under a strict dominance hierarchy, controlled by an “alpha” male and female pair, with other pack members aligned in a pecking order. Strong male adults usually work together to hunt while females stay behind with young. The Alpha PD will make sure all PDs are safe and will make decisions and sacrifices to keep that.
Plates:
The features that give them their name! Plates! Theyre 5 Plates on either side of a Plate Dragon's face and back side. They are made of keratin and can come in many different shapes and colors! PDs are able to move their plates, but only very slightly. They can move up and down and inward and outward! They mostly move with the expressions a PD makes or on command; similar to the way a human can wiggle their ears!
Plates are used as protection, intimidate enemies, communication and to attract mates during mating season.
Scales:
Plate Dragons are covered in patches of scales in different areas of the body. 4 scales on the face (2 on each side), 5 on each shoulder, 5 on each hind leg, and 4 on the tail! Scales are also made of keratin and can come in different colors and shapes, and sizes as well. Scales also serve as protection to PDs in battle or from enemies.
Horns:
Plate Dragons are all equipped with a singular horn on their foreheads, much like a unicorn! It was once said that only royal Plate Dragons has the biggest and tallest horns, and the size of the horn determined their place in society. Small horned PDs were usually looked down on, used as servants or entertainment. Medium horned PDs where those of lower/middle class. Large horned PDs were positioned under royals. They were allowed to live amongst the royals in their territory and would be allowed almost anywhere royals were, such as feats, parties and shows. Now Plate Dragons live amongst in unity, no matter the size of ones horns, all are treated the same!
Horns are made of keratin as well and can also come in any shape, size and color!
Tail Spikes:
A tail spike is a hard keratin spike on the end of a Plate Dragons tail. Used in battle a Plate Dragon will swing their tail around like a whip to try and injure an enemy. Not all Plate Dragons have a tail spike. They can come in any color, shape or size!
Fur:
Plate Dragons have fur and sometimes hair! When PDs were first discovered their pelts came only in dark colors! As time went on, PDs began to start showing fur of many different colors and textures as they evolved! Now you can find them in any color and pattern you can imagine! Of course, fur will depend on the region a PD lives. PDs living in hot climates will have shorter fur and cold climates will have PDs with longer fur. Plate Dragons can also have fur mutations such as albinism, melanism, erythrism, and leucism!
Habitats:
Plate Dragons can be found anywhere! But mostly thrive in Forests, Jungles or Caves! Different regions will have different types of Plate Dragons! Winter biomes might have fluffier and lighter colored PDs while Desert biomes will inhabit furless and darker colored PDs! The possibilities are endless on where they can be found!
Diet:
A Plate Dragon's main diet is Meat! They are carnivorous animals! They hunt large animals such as deer, zebra, and other big animals. Sometimes when theyre not as hungry they will prey on smaller animals such as rodents or reptiles. Plate Dragons can run up to 50 miles an hour and can hold their breaths under water for about 2 - 3 minutes. They have strong teeth and claws that are able to pierce all skin.
Teeth:
Plate Dragons have a similar teeth arrangement to a canine. The only difference is that the top two canine teeth have slits in them coming from the top to the middle of the canine! This is for the venom to come out of when spitting or biting! Their teeth are quite large and have a bite force of around 1,500 pounds per square inch (PSI). This is due to their strong jaw muscles, which are slightly stronger than those of other animals relative to their weight. Plate Dragons use their bite force to crush the shells of turtles and tortoises, and to take down animals up to four times their own weight with a single bite to the back of the skull.
Venom:
Each Plate Dragon has the ability to shoot venom from its mouth! Similar to the way a snake or spider might! They can come in a vast variety of colors! A Plate Dragons venom is very dangerous and is used to kill prey or to injure enemies. If venom is spit onto someone it will cause the skin to burn and create small holes on the surface. Sensation will feel like being stung by a wasp. Burning will subside within a few hours. If the venom is injected into the body via bite, the venom will spread throughout slowly, paralyzing the victim and eventually killing them within a few hours.
Eggs:
A Plate Dragon can have up to four (4) Eggs in a litter! They are weigh around 3 pounds and measuring 6 inches long and 5 inches wide and covered in scales! The scales on the outside of the egg serve as protection while the Plateling is still inside! Platelings can be inside an egg for 2 to 3 weeks and then they begin to hatch! A mother PD will create a nest made of leaves and fur. After the base of the nest is completed, the mother will spit acid around the perimeter of the nest daily to keep the eggs warm while she is away.
Platelings:
A baby Plate Dragon is called a Plateling! After hatching from the egg a Plateling is about 3 - 5 pounds and measuring only halfway up their mother's shoulder at 12 months old. They are also born underdeveloped, with their eyes, ears closed and no teeth, so their mothers keep them hidden for the first few weeks while they gain strength! They rely on their mothers milk to grow strong until then. After 4 to 6 weeks a Platelings will be able to eat meat alongside their parents!
