In order to observe dragons in the wild and document what you begin to learn yourself, it is first required to become an expert on what knowledge we have already.  The magical community has been using the parts of dragon anatomy since time began, recognising their huge magical benefits more and more as potioneering advances.  Although it is the behaviours of the living dragon a dragonologist is most concerned with, everything we currently know about these creatures is a dragonologists business to learn.  

The dragon is classified as a reptile and under that category as lizards, although they share certain characteristics with mammals, including legs connecting directly under the vertebrae, rather than horizontol to the pubis as most other lizards.  They are also warm blooded, heating their blood directly from their own organs rather than relying on the sun and environmental heat.  Their blood can reach up to 3000°c, meaning extreme care and expertise is taken when attempting to retrieve a blood sample from a living dragon.  In conservations, where blood samples are often taken to monitor a speciman's health, conservations use a painless slicing charm and freeze the blood with an enchantment as soon as the first few drops exit the cut.  The cut is then seal immediately, and the frozen blood retreived for examination in a laboratory.  Their bones are hollow, like a birds and yet also quite brittle, meaning retreiving blood samples must be done whilst the animal is unconcious so as not to damage any bone structure.  They have 506 bones in total.

Dragons, as most people know, are covered in scales.  These overlap, causing them to be classified as lepidosaura.  Their scales are incredibly tough and durable, impervious to both heat and cold.  Their scales are used as shields by wizards when observing up close for this very reason, as well as the scent being a dragon is less likely to immeditately attack if it does detect a human.  A dragon does not naturally shed its skin, although they have been known to pull off or trim back their own scales, as in the case of the Swedish Short-Snout.  

Arguably the most interesting part in the anatomy of a dragon and the most differing from breed to breed is the draconis fundamentum.  Although we know relatively little about this organ unique to the species, we do know it is the source of the ignis draco, or the dragon fire.  It channels energy from the blood passing through it to the lungs, which then govern how powerful the fire is.  The Welsh Green, for example, has a slightly smaller fundamentum than the Hungarian Horntail, which becomes evident in the difference of how much fire they will emit on attacking.  The Ironbelly has a slightly less efficient secretion gland than the Chinese Fireball, which explains the difference in girth the breeds generally have.  So, as you might have guessed, differences in breed can have a huge effect on a dragon's anatomy, as well as their behaviour.  

To this date, there are relatively few breeds of dragon that roam this earth.  Although this is fortunate for the wizards trying to orchestrate their concealment from muggles, it means that there are times when they also have to battle to bring back a breed from the brink of extinction.  These include the Catalonian Fireball, extremely rare to begin with, which disappeared around 1400 and the Portguese Long-Snout, which probably died out in the late 1800s due to over hunting.  Through these cases, it is important to learn that when we lose a breed of dragon, we lose a massive asset to the wizarding world and change the entire balance of a local eco system.  To this day,  Portugal often deals with over populations of beasts both magical and mundane that would ordinarily have been hunted by dragons in that respective area.  Despite this, there are many unique breeds of dragon which still continue to exist.  The known breeds are as follows.

Chinese Fireball, or Liondragon

Between two and four tonnes, of varying length.  This dragon is scarlet, with gold spikes forming a fringe around its face.  It has a very short snout and its eyes potrude quite dramatically from its face.  It features often to this day in Chinese decor because of its unusual and beautiful appearance.  On visiting Chinese wizarding communities, it is an image readily available in many shops.

Named for the way it emits fire, it does so by jetting first from its nostrils rather than its mouth and getting hotter and redder in a large ball at the end.  It is quite aggressive, yet tolerates its own species much better than other dragons.  More unusually, it has even been known to co-live in its territory with another Fireball.  Its favourite food is pigs and humans when it can get them, although it will eat other mammals.  Because of these, it is usually observed in specially enchanted observation huts accessible from underground.  The Canton Dragon Trust is the leading authority on constructing dragon observation huts after many mishaps and unfortunate events and often sends experts on consulting trips around the world.  They are also experts on covert dragon approaching, as the eggs of the Fireball have traditionally been of great use in Chinese wizardry.

Common Welsh Green

A Common Welsh Green tends to be a rich and bright green colour, although older and more sickly dragons can be a darker and more brownish green.  They grow to about 18 feet in length and have relatively soft scales in relation to other dragons.  It generally has green or brown eyes. 

As the name suggests, the Common Welsh Green, is common, Welsh and green.   Its Welsh-ness is further emphasised by its melodious roar, they do say the Welsh have great voices! One of the most peaceful breeds of dragon, it feeds on sheep and cattle and prefers to avoid human contact.  It may be observed in relative safety if the dragonologist keeps a respectable distance and remains encamped in an enclosed and rocky area, as the Welsh prefers to hunt and fly over open fields and make its nests in the higher, rocker areas, where it generally remains calm unless provoked.   They emit fire in thin, accurate jets, tending not to overuse their fire and relying on their strong jaws to finish off their prey.  In 1974, it was observed by the dragonologist Yyvone Gibble through over a hundred and twelve photographs of two Welsh Green's that smaller specimans of this breed actually produced more fire.  The reason for this is largely unknown, with Gibble speculating it may be a way for them to compensate their smaller size, especially when trying to breed or otherwise being amongst other dragons.  Famously, a Common Welsh Green was involved in the Ilfracombe Incident of 1932, flying down on a beach crowded with muggles in that respective place of the coast of Cornwall, England.  Fortunately, a holidaying wizarding family cast a number of potent memory charms, resulting in a narrow escape from disaster.  A Welsh Green also features on the flag of Wales, although it is now red.  This is a throwback to the days when muggles were aware of the existance of a native Welsh dragon, although now for the muggle it is simply myth and legend.  Their eggs are generally a muddy brown colour, flecked in a beautiful green.  These eggs, once discarded by the young, can be collected as a potion ingredient and are particularly useful in potions designed to increase plant fertility. 

Hebridean Black

Black, or extremely dark grey, the Hebridean black can sometimes have a slight mottling to the belly.  It can grow up the 30 feet in length and has the roughest scales of any known dragon breed.  It has sharp ridges along the back from neck to tail, which ends in a very large arrow shaped spike.  The wings are pointed in the middle and resemble a bats.  It has bright purple eyes.

Also a native of the British Isles, the Hebridean Black resides as the name suggests, in the Hebrides.  Traditionally in the care of the McFusty clan, Angus McFusty (see chapter 2) was one of the first major scholars in writing about this breed.  Moderately aggressive, much more so than the Common Welsh Green, it also requires much more territory.  They have been observed as needed up to one hundred square miles in which to hunt deer, athough occasionally it will attack cattle.  For the researcher, it is extremely dangerous and indeed most dragonologists will attempt any observation from the water, in a usually a large, metal vessel, as the breed normally will not attempt to fly over over water unless severely provoked.  This also means that the observer is able to take cover more easily than if in a land camp and also easily put oneself out with all that sea water if the occasion should call for it.  Its eggs are usually mottled black and grey. 

Hungarian Horntail

The longest breed, it reaches lengths of about 50 feet, with bronze horns and bronze spikes which run from the back of its neck, down the spine and across to the end of the club shaped tail, which is covered in said spikes.  It is black and usually has yellow eyes.

Extremely dangerous, it is recommended only the bravest and most experienced dragonologists attempt field observation with this breed.  In fact, most obervation is done from a great distance, with the use of long-distance omnioculars.  It mostly feeds on goats and sheep, but has a great taste for humans and often relishes eating them within sight of other humans.  Its young are unusual in the fact that they club their way out of their cement coloured eggs with their tails, which are the first thing the foetus develops inside the shell.  It is indiscriminate about who it attacks and so any research should only be done by professionals under the care of those that have worked with Horntails before.

Norwegian Ridgeback

Black, with black ridges, it averages about 36 feet and has similarly coloured ridges running down its back.  It usually has dark coloured eyes.  

The Norwegian Ridgeback is happy amongst the water, often feeding on ocean prey as well as land.  It has been known to carry off whale calves and wizarding fishing communities who are unfortunate enough to live near one are often guarded by reservationists who then attempt to move the beast on.  They are very aggressive, especially to their own kind, which may explain why they have become an extremely rare breed.  They use magnificent bursts of fire to burn their prey, carrying them off with their talons before eating them.  Their young develop these firey talents extremely young, younger than any other breed at about 1-3 months, as opposed to around six months for some other breeds.  It is currently one of many breeds under an extensive breeding program at the Romanian Dragon Sanctuary.  

Peruvian Vipertooth

The smallest known breed, growing to around 15 feet.  It has smooth, copper coloured scales and ridges of black, with short horns and long, venemous fangs.

In the late ninteenth century, the International Confederation of Wizards sent a team of dragonologists and exterminators to both document and cull this breed after a large spate of human killings.  A boon for the potions market, for the dragonologists that attended to document the behave of the beasts, it was an unfortunate scene.  Fernando Rafael documents in his paper Culling of the Peruvian Vipertooth, "The beasts were exceptionally violent, although when they realised there was a culling taking place they fled to the mountains.  There, they were trapped, as the exterminators took out their numbers without sparing the young.  This made the breeding females extremely vicious and caused a number of exterminator deaths.  After this, the culling was handled more carefully and humanely." 

Romanian Longhorn

Growing to about 25 feet, dark green, with extremely long and glittering golden horns.  These horns are often used for decoration as well as a potions ingredients, which also goes some way to explain their over-hunting.

Living on the site of the famous Romanian Dragon Sanctuary, this dragon is exceptionally rare and a recent detailed and intense breeding program has been in place for a number of years in order to increase their numbers.  Probably hunted because of trade in its horns, which have a number of magical properties and are much sought after, this rare breed is a pleasure to behold.  Observed at many especially built and enchanted dragon observation hunts, it is interesting to note how the Longhorn first gores its prey before using its fire jets to roast it, before then consuming it.  Its jaws are relatively underpowered compared to other breeds.   It eats deer and nests in caves and on high mountains and occasionally in very dense forests.

Swedish Short-Snout

Silver-blue, it grows up to 25 feet and some specimans have been known to be an extremely light silvery colour.  Older dragons are usually a slightly darker blue.  As its name suggests, its snout is comparitavely short compared to other breeds.  When hunting, it tends to use its fire to roast prey to death before using its smaller, powerful jaws to chew.

Living in some of the most uninhabited expanses in Northern Europe, this breed, unlike it's Romanian counterpart, has a large population.  It makes its habitat on high and very cold mountain ranges, which perhaps goes some way to explain why its skin is easily the toughest of the known breeds.  It emites a blue fire that is wonderous to behold, being best to observe from small caves and enclosures, which it hates to be trapped in.  It is not very aggressive unless very severely provoked, feeding on dear and other fauna in its local area.  It seems to like being observed by humans, perhaps because of the relative novelty of dragon observation and its self awareness of its physical looks.  It also spends more time grooming than any of the other breeds, especially during mating season, when it will prepare itself by scorching off its on dull or damaged scales in order to regrow them new and shiny.

Ukranian Ironbelly

Up to 40 feet long, this grey coloured breed is also enormously heavy, reaching weights of around six tonnes, making it extremely slow and cumbersome.  They have very long talons, which are sometimes used as a potion ingredient.  It has deep red eyes.

The most observed dragon since an icident in 1799 when an Irobelly managed to carry off a sailing vessel.  Although it was empty, it did call for a number of memory charms performed on local muggle fisherman and a substantial amount of complaints from the Ukrainian wizarding community who felt this shouldn't have even happened in the first place.  It is usually observed from small caves and  fissures in the earth where it cannot easily get into, as its weight tends to mean it easily crushes observation huts even with a number of enchanments placed upon them. Fights between them tend to be about brute strength rather than maneuverability.  

Although these constitute the known breeds of dragon, it is possible there are many more.  Dragon myths exist in many, many parts of the world and dragonologists who specialise in dragonlore have estimate there may indeed have been hundreds of breeds across the world, with the potential for them to still exist.  The intelligence of a dragon is often misunderestimated and so it is more than possible that one day we may wake up to the exciting news of an entirely new breed discovered, having hidden from us for hundreds of years.