What Is a Baby Dragon Called?

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The offspring of dragons are referred to as hatchlings, wyrmlings or whelps in most fantasy settings and stories. While they vary in size, most dragons seem to share a few common traits, such as the ability to fly and breathe fire.

Dragons themselves are based on European or Chinese folklore, and some fantasy settings use the particular shapes or traits of these fabled forms of the creatures in their own works of fiction. Original dragon folklore is thought to come from the potential discovery of dinosaur fossils, which provided an easy target to blame for potential lost livestock. European-styled dragons are most common in modern works; everything from “Dungeons and Dragons” to “How to Train Your Dragon” uses this western style of a large lizard-like form with massive wings. Eastern dragons are much more serpent-like, tricksters, and considered to be benevolent and wise. They were described as floating through the air, breathing clouds, and controlling the tides and rivers.