Dragons, Dinosaurs, and Pterosaurs

Dragons, by whatever name, existed (at least in legends) in the past, in various cultures in various parts of the world. But could some of the accounts relate to real living creatures? Please consider some of the descriptions, then compare them with the dinosaurs and pterosaurs.

A long tail is common, as is a reptilian-like appearance. Some, but not all, dragons were drawn with four legs. Some had wings. Evil and danger were associated with dragons of Europe, but not with those of China (where they were associated positively). And gigantic were some dragons.

A sauropod dinosaur could be compared with a dragon, at least when wings are absent and four legs are mentioned. According to the fossils, sauropods are the largest land creatures to have lived on the earth.

What about a winged dragon that could exhale fire? Could such an animal have existed? Could it now exist? Consider the ropen of Umboi Island. One eyewitness described the glow of the nocturnal creature as red, like the glow from burning embers. Those few witnesses who have seen a ropen in daylight mention an absence of feathers or an appearance somewhat like
a “lizard." Those descriptions could be compared with a fire-
breathing reptilian-like dragon. The main technical mistake is in taking bioluminescence for fire.

One English eyewitness of a featherless creature with a long tail observed the creature in Eastern Spain (in 2007).

See the home page of Ropens

The only non-fiction book about live pterosaurs reported across America, from Washington state to Florida and from California to Maine, and many states in between.

According to Dale Reeder, "If you have an interest in cryptozoology you should read this."

Buy it on Amazon

or see the Live Pterosaurs in America
home page