This is my favorite, a frost dragon. They are very icy and ARE fire-breathers, except the fire freezes!



Scientists report of two cases where female Komodo dragons have produced offspring without male contact. One of the Komodo Dragons named ‘Flora’ a resident of Chester Zoo in the UK, is awaiting her clutch of eight eggs to hatch, with a due-date any time now. Flora, who has never been kept with a male Komodo dragon, produced 11 eggs earlier this year. Three died off, providing the material needed for genetic tests. Tests carried out have revealed their eggs had developed without being fertilised by sperm - a process called parthenogenesis. The researchers said that, to ensure genetic diversity of Komodo dragons kept in captivity, zoos should perhaps keep males and females together to avoid asexual reproduction. It is thought that lizards could make use of the ability to reproduce asexually when, for example, a lone female was washed up alone on an island with no males to breed with. There are currently, at last count fewer than 4,000 Komodo dragons living in the wild, found living on three islands in Indonesia: Komodo, Flores and Rinca. Adult males can grow up to 3m (10ft) in length and weigh up to 90kg (200lb) - making them the biggest lizards in the world.



Sea Dragon!
The leafy sea dragon, Phycodurus eques, is a marine fish related to the seahorse. It is the only member of the genus Phycodurus. These creatures are found around southern and western Australia and generally remain in shallow, temperate waters. Their name comes from their appearance, with long leaf-like protrusions coming from all over the body. These protrusions are not used for propulsion; they serve only as camouflage. The leafy sea dragon propels itself by means of a pectoral fin on the ridge of its neck and a dorsal fin on its back closer to the tail end. These small fins are almost completely transparent and difficult to see as they undulate minutely to move the creature sedately through the water, completing the illusion of floating seaweed.


Much like the seahorse, the leafy sea dragon's name is derived from its resemblance to another creature (in this case, a mythical creature). While not large by sea monster standards, they are very large for sea horses, growing at least 18 inches (45 cm). They feed on plankton, algae, and other small flotsam, and are not preyed upon by any species other than humans. Females deposit eggs on the tail of the male where they grow to maturity. They have become endangered through pollution and industrial runoff as well as collection by fascinated divers who are entranced by their unique appearance. In response to these dangers they have been officially protected by the Australian government.

A related species is the weedy sea dragon, which is multi-coloured and grows weed-like fins and can be much smaller than the leafy sea dragon. In the November 2006 issue of National Geographic magazine, marine biologist Greg Rouse is reported as investigating the DNA variation of the two sea dragon species across their ranges.

The leafy sea dragon is the official marine emblem of the state of South Australia. A biennial Leafy Sea Dragon Festival is held by the District Council of Yankalilla, South Australia. It is a festival of the environment, arts and culture of the southern Fleurieu Peninsula, with a theme of celebrating the leafy sea dragon. The inaugural festival in 2005 attracted over 7000 participants and visitors. [1]


Keeping sea dragons
It is illegal to catch and keep sea dragons, as they are a protected species. They are very fragile and unstable outside their natural habitats.


References
Connolly (2006). Phycodurus eques. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and a lengthy justification of why this species is near threatened












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