Galleries : Undying Tales 2021 : UT 31 - Muddy Dragon
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Alligator sinensis Status: Critically Endangered, habitat fragmentation and loss, and extreme population declines The Chinese mythical dragon (called a loong) is a fantastic celestial creature that is depicted as a chimerical conglomeration of attributes from a variety of earthly creatures. It has the serpentine body of a snake, the scales of a carp, the mane of a lion, antlers of a deer, claws of an eagle. They are majestic symbols of power and tied to the elements and the land as spirits and guardians. The inspiration for loong was once thought to be snakes, or lightning, but modern archaeologists now speculate that the original prototype for the loong imagery was very likely the Chinese alligator, based on findings of depictions of the alligators on ancient relics. Over the centuries, the muddy dragons of the Yangze River evolved in the minds and hearts of people to become the celestial loongs.
Size: 7 x 7 inches Detail closeups:
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