Dragons

Dragons are relatively common within the world of Temeraire, and inhabit nearly all continents and play a prominent role in many cultures throughout the world.

Weight Classes
All dragon breeds are divided up into three weight classes; Lightweight, Middleweight and Heavyweight. A fourth, Courier, is sometimes applied to dragons on the smaller end of Lightweight dragons.

Lightweight
Lightweight dragons are the smaller breeds, falling anywhere under 10 tonnes.

Couriers
While still technically Lightweights, Couriers are dragon breeds that are so small that their main duties involve carrying messages and mail rather than in combat. Any dragon under 6 tonnes is considered Courier-weight.

Light Combat
Lightweight dragons who are over 6 tonnes are considered large enough to be useful in combat and known as Light Combat dragons.

Middleweight
Middleweight dragons range from 10-18 tonnes and are relatively common.

Heavyweight
The largest and rarest of dragons, to be considered Heavyweight, a dragon must exceed 18 tonnes in weight. The Heavyweight class is the most varied of the classes, for some breeds in this category can reach 50 tonnes or greater.

Dragon Breeds
For generations, humans have bred dragons for different traits, creating a number of distinct dragon breeds with their own unique features and abilities.

British Breeds
Greyling - Lightweight

Winchester - Lightweight

Grey Widowmaker - Lightweight

Sharpspitter - Lightweight, venomous

Grey Copper - Lightweight

Bright Copper - Unknown; likely Middleweight but could be Lightweight

Xenica - Unknown weight

Yellow Reaper - Middleweight

Malachite Reaper - Middleweight

Anglewing - Middleweight

Longwing - Middleweight, acid-spitter

Parnassian - Medium-to-Heavyweight

Chequered Nettle - Heavyweight

Regal Copper - Heavyweight

French Breeds
Plein-Vite - Lightweight/Courier

Chasseur-Vocifere - Lightweight/Courier

Pou-de-Ciel - Lightweight

Roi-de-Vitesse - Lightweight

Garde-de-Lyon - Lightweight

Pascal's Blue - Lightweight

Pecheur-Raye - Middleweight

Flamme-de-Gloire - Middleweight, fire-breather

Papillon Noir - Middleweight

Honneur-d'Or - Presumably Middleweight

Fleur-de-Nuit - Presumably Heavyweight

Defendeur-Brave - Heavyweight

Chanson-de-Guerre - Heavyweight

Petit Chevalier - Heavyweight

Grand Chevalier - Heavyweight

Spanish Breeds
Flecha-del-Fuego - Lightweight, fire-breather

Cauchador Real - Heavyweight

Prussian Breeds
Mauerfuchs - Lightweight/Courier

Berghexe - Middleweight

Russian Breeds
Ironwing - Unknown weight, venomous

Scandinavian Breeds
Scandinavian Lindorm - Unknown; probably Middleweight

Turkish Breeds
Alaman - Lightweight

Akhal-Teke - Middleweight

Kazilik - Heavyweight, fire-breather

Indian Breeds
Nilgiri Cutter - unknown weight

Chinese Breeds
Yu-Lung/Jade - Lightweight/Courier

Unnamed Chinese Breed - Lightweight

Li-Lung/Plum - Lightweight

Zhao-Lung/Emerald Glass - Unknown weight

Shao-Lung/Scarlet Flower - Heavyweight

Shen-Lung - Weight varies

Qin-Lung/Imperial - Heavyweight

Tien-Lung/Celestial - Heavyweight, divine wind

Japanese Breeds
Ka-Riu - Unknown, acid-spitter

Sui-Riu - Heavyweight, water-spitter

America and Canada
Dakota - Unknown; Middleweight or Heavyweight

South America
Copacati - Heavyweight, acid-spitter

Uturuncu - Heavyweight

Yupanqui - Heavyweight

Tumi - Middleweight

Unnamed - Lightweight, fire-breather

Tswana Empire
While there are no breed names given, the Tswana Empire has a large number of dragons, including fire-breathers and at least four different heavyweight breeds.

Incan Breeds
Unnamed fire-breather; small, probably Lightweight. Fire-breath isn't useful for battle but can be used to fuel forges.

Indian Breeds
Bengal Middleweight Breed