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.

Jay Jay goes around the cave singing. He sings only one song, and it's really starting to get on the other dragons' nerves. They know of only one John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt so they cannot understand why Jay Jay insists on singing about someone whose name is his name, too. Whenever they try to tell Jay Jay this, though, he just starts singing more loudly in an effort to drown them out.