Despite how frequently we may see it in arts and crafts, red dragons are actually rather rare. It’s a bold colour, too bold for hunting beasts, and sadly prized for its appearance by illegal traders. Mature dragons typically grow earthy colours to their scales; moss greens and sandy yellows and cool, angular greys. Blue is common in sea kinds and greys and purples in nocturnal ones, but red tends to struggle without the aid of people.

Perhaps this is why some places regard dragons as wild and dangerous – unable to hunt for themselves, the reds grew fearless and edged too close to people, and too far into trouble. Most these days are greeted with cheer, but not all in the past were so lucky.