There is no scientific evidence to prove the existence of dragons and they are considered mythical creatures in folklore and legends. South Africa, like many other regions, has a rich tradition of folklore and mythology, but dragons are not generally considered real in the sense of existing in the natural world.

You might think that dragons only appear in movies or series like “Game of Thrones.” However, these dragons are real. The first one originates from Africa, specifically South Africa. You can explore the latter in various locations, including the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and even India.

Smaug Giganteus or Sungazer This species was first described in 1844 by Scottish naturalist Dr. Sir Alan Smith, known by various names, such as Sungazer, Giant Belted Lizard, Zonure, Lord Derby Lizard or Ouvolk. Sungazers are native to South Africa and are closely related to the gentle-slope Themeda sp. grasslands of the Highveld plateau.

Draco Volans or Flying Dragon Pterosaurs are mainly found in tropical rainforests and tropical regions, where there are enough trees for the lizards to jump from, in South India and Southeast Asia. This includes the Philippine Islands and Borneo.

Sungazers are heavily armored lizards, which is why one of their common names is Belted Lizards. The name comes from the rows of fossilized bone scales along their bodies.

These scales or bony scales are somewhat hard and arranged in uniform rings or belts around the body. The name “Ouvolk” comes from the ancient Afrikaans language spoken by the first Dutch settlers and roughly translates as “Old Folk”, thought to refer to the tendency to sit at the entrance of a cave, facing the sun. sun for many hours straight.

Overall, the most commonly used name, “Sungazer,” also originates from this behavior. The names “Zonure” and “Lord Derby’s Lizard” are almost no longer in use.

The name “giant” suggests that these creatures are relatively large in stature, especially when compared to the more than 40 other species of the Cordylidae family. Adult Sungazers reach a size of about 38 cm (14.6 inches) from snout to tail tip. They have a dark brown upper body that turns straw yellow on the flanks and underside. Juveniles are more colorful, having yellow and black stripes or streaks on their bodies, which tend to fade as they mature.

Pterosaurs are characterized by having a set of large “wings” along the sides of their bodies, used for gliding. These wings are supported by elongated ribs. In addition, they also have a dome-shaped flap called the dewlap, located under the head. This tissue is used during the display. The body of the pterosaur is very flat and elongated.