Serpents can refer to snakes or to fantastical beasts that draw on elements of their real-world counterparts. Dragons are depicted in a variety of ways: as a mythical large reptile with monstrous wings, as a scaly serpent or lizard with a crested head and enormous claws, with a barbed tail and large sharp teeth, and breathing fire and smoke. They live in caves and are solitary creatures of the darkness and seashore. They mystify and intrigue us in historic art and contemporary stories.
