Steve Dutch
Aug 25, 2017 · 1 min read

All large animals are hot inside. It’s a matter of heat production versus conduction. The difference between a lion and a crocodile is homeostasis — whether the animal has a mechanism for maintaining a permanent high temperature even during periods of inactivity or cold weather. Considering that many large dinosaurs are believed to have been warm blooded, there’s no reason dragons couldn’t be. But their food needs would go up dramatically.

The most absurd dragon concept I ever saw was in Reign of Fire, where dragons burn things and then eat the ash. Say what? They let all the energy content of their food literally go up in smoke, and then eat the residue? Anybody want stock in my new sandwich company where I serve the crusts cut off the sandwiches?

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