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This article is based on the western dragon with membrane wings, scales, long bodies and four legs (species classification: Draco Aer).

These intelligent dragons can fly and they have light-weight, membrane, hollow-boned wings. Because of the dragon's size and weight, they have very strong flight-muscles near the chest area to create sufficient thrust. For easier 'take-off' they often jump off from higher cliffs. Some dragons also have magic flight-powers to help them stay in the air for longer periods of time.

Typical flight speeds are perhaps exemplified by Draco (Dragonheart), who flies at over 35 miles/hr (56 km/h) (RC96), but he can reach much higher speeds when diving. It is believed that dragons can reach a flight altitude of over 49.000 feet (15.000 m), by using warm air currents (1). Full-grown dragons can easily bear the weight of a grown person during flight.

Their skeleton is tough but probably hollow in order to reduce weight (2). They have very strong jaw-muscles and the jaw-pressure is probably comparable to or higher than a crocodile's, whose jaw-pressure is 3-5 tons per square inch. Their jaws can be dislocated for swallowing larger chunks of food, just like a snake.

For protection, most parts of their body is covered with overlapping, smooth, tough scales. The scales on the chest area are tougher than on any other part of the body, and it is said that these scales can withstand arrows, bolts or the blow from a sword. A dragon's underbelly and limbs, on the other hand, are softer and represent the most vulnerable spots on a dragon, with the exception of its eyes and its membrane-wings which heal very slowly.

A dragon's average life-expectancy can be measured in centuries (3), although most dragons are killed or succumb to diseases, or die of other non-natural causes. Many of the dragons of House Targaryen in ASOIAF were bred for war, for example, and they were killed in battle.

Their size seems to be related to age: It is said that Balerion the Black Dread from ASOIAF, for example, who was 200 years old when he died, "could swallow an aurochs or mammoth whole". It is also said that some dragons never stop growing (4), but sooner or later they will no longer be able to fly because of the excessive weight. And a dragon which can no longer fly will probably die unless it is fed. Dragons eat meat (sometimes only cooked or charred), but they supplement their diet with plants.

Balerion was exceptionally large though, and a typical full-grown dragon would probably be much smaller. Furthermore, dragons in ASOIAF which live out in the wild could grow larger than dragons which were kept in captivity. Draco, who might be representative for a typical, grown dragon, is 18 feet (5.5 m) high, 43 feet (13.1 m) long and has a wingspan of 73 feet (22.3 m).

Some dragons are capable of camouflaging themselves due to their 'chameleon'-powers. Generally speaking, dragons also have empathic and telepathic abilities which enables them to read the emotions of humans or other animals, or cause fear among their enemies. Their regular five senses are very sensitive as well. However, the dragons in ASOIAF are one of the exceptions, and these dragons do not seem to possess chameleon-powers or telepathic abilities. A dragon with skull horns uses them for infrasonic communication or to amplify roars.

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