Scientific Name: Draco Caverna
Common Name: Cave Dragon
Habitat: World-wide in caves sufficient in size and gentle in slope.
General Description
Cave Dragons are almost always slate gray in color and ill in temper, perhaps best described as being filled with a sort of perpetual grouchiness. This situation--coupled with the fact that Cave Dragons do indeed breathe fire--is undoubtedly the root cause of most Medieval dragon lore. In actual fact, however, these creatures are some of the most timid and shy of all. The truth is that their bashfulness caused their retreat into the caves in the first place, their ill temper derives from the obvious discomfort of living in such a cold and clammy world, and their fire is merely an attempt to vent excess heat from their internal temperature regulation system. The Cave Dragon's diet consists almost entirely of mushrooms and moss--a fact which in itself might explain their sour disposition. Still, when approached with gentle sympathy, these dragons can become quite friendly and talkative. Beware, however, of staying to listen too long, as they are not above scheming to create a captive audience in danger of being talked to death.