The Malaysian Dragon or Naga (Draco naga) – Dragon species found in the East Indies – modern day Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Long feared by Malay mariners who called it the Naga, this larger relative of the Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) – the Malaysian Dragon has been known to reach lengths of 30 feet, thrice the length of the largest known Komodo Dragons, their cousins. Unlike the Komodo Dragon, the Malaysian Dragon is comfortable at sea and on land, much in the manner of the Arabian Dragon of Red Sea areas. It preys on all manner of wildlife, including forest hogs, birds, deer, fish, sea snakes, crabs, and yes humans.
        Arguably the most dangerous of the dragons, they are constant bane to fishermen in the region, often striking small fishing craft with tremendous force, throwing the occupants in the water to be consumed. They are no less a danger in the jungle and in isolated villages, and have discouraged settlement in some of the more remote regions of the archipelago. They are known to be responsible for many deaths, even into the 20th century they were known to kill explorers and anthropologists working in New Guinea and downed Japanese and Allied aviators in the region during the Second World War. One popular theory has it that a Naga ate Amelia Earhart in her abortive world flight, though in truth where she perished is well out of their known range.
        The Malaysian Dragon is also without a doubt the most numerous of the dragon species, and is still present in some numbers in the remote islands of Malaysia, Indonesia, and is thought to thrive on the poorly explored island of New Guinea. They are particularly common in the Banda Sea area, the arm of the Pacific Ocean encompassed by Celebes (Sulawesi), Timor, Maluku, and Seram, leading to the region being known as the Sea of Dragons to some.
        This dragon once ranged into the southern Philippines, but a concerted effort by the United States military resulted in their eradication in the first few decades of the 20th century, after a number of servicemen were eaten during the Philippine Insurrection.  There was a plan by the CIA during the Vietnam War to attempt to populate the species in North Vietnam, to deny the Gulf of Tongking to North Vietnamese fishermen and present a threat to shipping. Howard Hughes was even involved, and constructed a special ship, the St. George, to carry them to the region, but the plan was aborted (though provided Hughes’ company valuable experience for the later Glomar Explorer, used to salvage a sunken Soviet sub).

        The Ryukyu Dragon or Ryujin (Draco ryukyu) – Northern relative of the Malaysian Dragon, is smaller and spend much more time at sea than its cousin. The Ryukyu Dragon is native to the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, a 650 mile long archipelago southwest of the main home islands.  In prehistoric times it had a wider distribution, ranging as far north as the southern shores of the main island of Kyushu and as far south as Formosa, but in historic times largely the main island chain and Okinawa.
        The Ryujin figures prominently in Japanese history and culture. In Japanese myth, they were personified as the Dragon-King of the Sea, or the Sea-King, said to control the tidal flow with magic jewels. The deities’ daughter married Prince Hoori, and became the ancestors of the imperial dynasty.  Thus in a manner similar to the Arabian Dragons and the Saud family, the Ryukyu Dragon and the Japanese imperial family became intertwined. However, the connection was not merely one of “as one goes so goes the other” – the Ryujin were regarded as actual members of the imperial line, living descendants of the gods and distant cousins to the Emperor himself. As cousins, no one was allowed to ever harm a dragon, or allow one to come to harm. The dragons became over the centuries remarkably tame, knowing they had nothing to fear from humans (at least in Japanese waters, they were hunted to extinction off Formosa or modern Taiwan). Preying mainly on fish and squid, they are still seen laying about sunning themselves, even in the middle of busy streets. Illegal even today to disturb them, traffic must be routed around them. Should one eat a local farmer’s livestock (they do occasionally take a goat or sheep), one must not even disturb them feeding, but thank them for blessing the household.
        The Ryukyu Dragon was also the symbol of the now vanished Ryukyu Kingdom, a one time independent nation that encompassed most of the island chain from 1406 to 1879. Though the kingdom tried to maintain its independence by playing both Japan and China off one another, it was largely subjugated by the Japanese domain of Satsuma in 1609 during the brief “Dragon War,” and eventually became a part of Japan proper during the Meiji period.
        When Commodore Matthew Perry on his way back from visiting Edo in 1854 stopped off in the Bonin Islands and captured a few, hoping to bring them back, he caused a diplomatic incident. The Japanese government was most distressed over this, and it was not long before he ordered to return the creatures to their rightful place.  One died on the journey back over, though the Shogunate was never informed; today various parts of this dragon reside in several jars of alcohol in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.
        The Ryukyu Dragon was wiped out on Iwo Jima and Okinawa during fighting in World War II, but thanks to American assistance the species was repopulated on both islands as part of a project started by General Douglas MacArthur, and is alive and well in both areas.

        The New Zealand Dragon or Taniwha (Draco maorius) – Species of dragon once native to the islands of New Zealand, was the largest non-bird land animal prior to European colonization. Huge lizards, they were the largest of the known dragon species, not as long as some but much heavier, and were clearly the apex predators of the island, even preying on the great moa.
        An alternative theory has that the Taniwha was actually herbivorous, and may not have been a member of the genus Draco either. Given the flightless birds of the islands of New Zealand, researchers question how they would have arose had their been a dragon predator there? Unfortunately, most remains of Taniwha are in poor condition, and those that were alive during the initial European colonization are in very poor shape. If the New Zealand Dragon was in fact a herbivore, it would raise the issue that not only might it belong to a new genus, but a new family as well.
        Before even the Europeans arrive though the Taniwha was in decline, as the native Maori hunted the creature with relish, both as a food source and to remove a threat to local villages. The Maori formed large hunting parties to combat the creature, laying nooses of thick ropes on the ground and trapping the dragon by quickly pulling on them when it came forth to attack them. At that point they would start hitting the dragon with stone battleaxes and long spears, while the dragon attempted to fight back with its lashing tail and toothy jaws. Though men often perished during this hazardous enterprise, slowly but steadily the Taniwha was killed over most of New Zealand, the last few individuals dying in the first decade of European colonization of the islands.

Dragons of-

           EUROPE- The Mediterranean or Common Dragon, and the Medeira Dragon.

           AFRICA- The Saharan Dragon, and the Lake Chad Dragon.

           ASIA- The Arabian Dragon, and the Great Thar Dragon.

           THE PACIFIC- The Malaysian Dragon, the Ryukyu Dragon and the New Zealand Dragon.

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