Dragons

Dragons are giant winged, fire-breathing reptiles.

Currently there are ten types of pure-bred dragons, although some have interbred which have resulted in a handful of rare hybrids.

Although dragons tend to be impatient and angered easily, they exhibit a
wide variety of behaviors associated with memory, problem-solving and
self-awareness, not unlike elephants.

Most dragon species are native to different parts of Europe, but there
are three which are native to other continents; the Chinese Fireball is
native to China, the Peruvian Vipertooth is native to Peru and the
Antepodean Opaleye is native to New Zealand and known to migrate to
Australia at times. 

dragon keepers or Dragonologists, are allowed within close distance of dragons to breed and study them.

Any form of dragon breeding, trading, harvesting and selling, other
than those regulated by the Ministry of Magic, has been outlawed by the Warlock’s Convention as of 1709.

Anatomy

Their anatomy is very different from most creatures, magical and not,
and the way its body works and acts directly affects the harvesting and
use of the many different parts of the dragon in both potioneering and
other fields. These materials are incredibly powerful, but they can also
be temperamental and dangerous at times.

four legs directly beneath the body rather than splayed to the sides, is
more mammalian than reptilian. In addition to this, unlike most
reptiles, dragons are endothermic creatures due to their elemental nature. This means they are warm-blooded and can regulate their own body temperature which ranges from 1000 to 1600 degrees Celsius, or 1800 to 3000 degrees Fahrenheit.

A dragon’s body is covered in hundreds of hard, durable scales. Despite these scales, their skin is not unlike crocodile hide; tough, leathery and thick.
Where the spines, horns and claws, if the dragon has any, are attached
to the skeleton, the scales are not; the dragon cannot move the scales
at will. The scales are much harder and less flexible than the spines
with a resistance exceeding that of steel as well. The scales overlap
and grow throughout a dragon's lifetime, although very slowly. Unlike
most other scaled creatures, a dragon neither sheds its skin nor sheds individual scales; instead its individual scales grow larger and it grows new scales as the body gets bigger. When a dragon is ill, the scales turn dull and muted.

Most dragon species have skeletons comprising of just over 500 bones,
which is astronomical in comparison to the 206 bones in the human
skeleton; most of these additional bones are accounted for by the
dragon’s wings and spine. The bones are very strong, but also very light
for their size, because they are hollow as is seen in many birds. Dragon bone is stronger than any known mundane material in
the amount of pressure it is able to withstand. Dragon bone may however
become somewhat brittle when removed, so a clean cut must be made when
harvesting.

From neck to rump the musculature of a dragon resembles that of a great
cat, whereas the area along the neck and tail resembles that of a
constrictor serpent. The wing and chest muscles are more dense and larger than any of the other muscle groups in a dragon’s musculature. 

a dragon’s anatomy has additional organs. Most important to the dragon, other than their vital organs, are the larynx, trachea, lungs and draconis fundamentum. These organs are all crucial in the generation of its fire breath.

Materials such as claw, blood, horn and hide may only be obtained from a stunned or dead dragon. As it often takes over a dozen wizards to stun a dragon

Dragons usually have three forward-facing claws and often an additional single claw at the rear of the foot; less commonly they have four forward-facing claws.can be stored for up to ten years.

Dragon claws are known to heighten and boost intellect, and are therefore used in potions affecting the mind, such as memory potions and brain elixirs. An unfortunate side-effect of dragon claw is that it may cause intense headaches and migraines if over-used. Long-term use has been associated with permanent memory loss and must therefore not be consumed lightly. Dragon claws must be ground before being added to a potion or else the stomach may not be able to process the material.

Dragon heart is perhaps the most powerful organ of any creature used in potioneering. Once harvested, the heart must be preserved in a jar filled with alcohol and can be stored for up to 3 years

Dragon hearts are used most commonly in dark potions, but are also used in some of the most effective healing potions ever created. Dragon hearts should never be consumed raw.

The only species of dragon which grows horns is the Romanian Longhorn; they are glittering and golden in appearance.

they are used most commonly in antidotes and cures aimed at
reversing, preventing or curing natural and unnatural negative effects
on the mind. Like dragon claws, dragon horns must be ground before being added to a potion or else the stomach may not be able to process the material.

must be preserved in a jar filled with alcohol and can be stored for up to 3 years. Not all of the liver has to be used in one go, but can be dissected into pieces for use in potions.

The liver is used in some particularly powerful antidotes, detoxifying the body completely. Potions containing this ingredient may not be given to those who have a low immune system as the liver is very aggressive and may make the consumer sick. They can be used in potions which boost metabolisms as well.

Dragon blood is, in the opinion of many, perhaps the most versatile ingredient available to us in the field of potioneering. As of today twelve uses have been discovered by the late Albus Dumbledore; Ivor Dillonsby claims he discovered eight of them prior to Dumbledore though. Dragon blood may be green or red in colour, dependent on the species and can be collected without seriously harming the creature. Once harvested dragon blood should be kept bottled and heated; dragon blood will never expire, but it can go stale if kept for more than three months.

a natural pain-killer. Due to its numbing and healing properties, dragon blood is used in both anaesthetic and medicinal potions; it’s particularly effective in battling colds and flu-like symptoms because
of its elemental nature. The blood of a dragon is also incredibly
effective in antidotes used against poisons which attack the immune system, deactivating these kinds of poisons swiftly.