Wyvern Anatomy 2 - Firebreathing by Daio
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Description
Another slide for my Dragon Physiology panel.
The Dragon Program that has been shown on Animal Planet in the US postulated a mechanism for fire-breathing that involved platinum as a catalyst. I never liked that idea as platinum is a very scarce element and that to me made the mechanism less plausible.
My idea involves physiological mechanism from two very different creatures. The bombardier beetle and cows. Bombardier are able to produce free oxygen and large amounts of heat by reacting hydrogen peroxide and other biological chemicals with peroxidase and catalase enzymes. Fermentation of carbohydrates by bacteria in the anerobic environment of the the cow's rumen produces large amounts of methane and other flammable gases.
Adding heat and oxygen to flammable gasses is a perfect recipe for fire. The wyvern would not have to be a herbivore like the cow to be able to ferment carbohydrates, sugars could be secreted into the reticular sacs or the wyvern could be somehat omnivorous, consuming select vegatative matter for express purpose of fermentation. Vegetation is much easier to find than platinum!
Comments (10)
mabfairyqueen
Super Neato! I agree about the platinum thing. That's the only thing I didn't care for in that show.
Wylder
Wow! The whole series is terrific, and your explanation is quite possible! :D
Storm9167
Interesting idea's.. Sadly have never seen the show, but probably would have been interesting!! Cool image, obvious some work and thought has gone into it all.. Sure it'll be a hit at your convention!!
Artzy
Wonderfully Done!
webdancer
Remarkable and your theory is plausible! I like it much better than the idea of platinum. Excellent diagram!
Lyne
GREAT idea/answer to the how!!! Wonderful render!
DreamersWish
You have put a lot of thought into this and it is very interesting stuff! I love the anatomy images too. Well done!
Mercytoo
This is very cool! You really have put a lot of thought into this. Excllent work!
originalkitten
marvellous work!
jonasgoodwin
Having been on a similar track before with dragon fire, my research indicated a slight problem with the bombardier beetle, one of the byproducts was oxygen, yes, but also water. Additionally, and I don't know biochem well enough to tell you this for sure, but I was told that the bombardier beetle situation would not produce high enough heat to ignite methane, even if that methane was under pressure. There's a good chance you have already addressed this in your own thinking, I don't presume to be any kind of expert, but your brief explanation was reminiscent of one I abandon/adapted a while back. Of course, and I very well may be, if I'm wrong please indicate on what grounds. I'm always messing with different ideas and such, I'm just glad that the Dragon Program didn't take this angle. I felt like I had been working so long to get this far, that a new program would rush in and complete the idea without me. That creative process, you know? Anyway, I like your work and good luck.