Dorsal Dragons are so named because they have large fins along their backs that can be raised and lowered at will. They use these fins to regulate body temperature; they raise them to cool off when they become overheated. The bright colors on the fins double as a means of attracting mates.

Dragons are highly-intelligent reptilian creatures that—from a human perspective, at least—appear to live forever. Many different varieties of dragon exist, each with their own unique qualities, habitats, and behavior. Adolescence in dragons is usually marked by the growth of a hatchling’s wings, although not all breeds of dragons grow wings and some breeds have other traits that indicate the beginning of maturation. In Galsreim, dragons and humans coexist peacefully.

The rocky walls surrounding Xorandra's horde are covered with drawings of her latest obsessions, each sketch covering the subject of a previous interest so that the pictures are impossible to decipher in many places. The horde itself is not of gold or jewels, but of abandoned items she once found interesting: everything from books to human clothing. Most dragons know her to be rather level-headed, but when it comes to her horde, she is as dotty as Oohooria. No obsession lasts very long as something else dominates her interest rather quickly. She rarely even notices that her horde is often diminished from the day before. It is a treasure trove of wealth to pioneers like Arietty, and hours of entertainment for the wingless hatchlings.