Clematis Dragon

The clematis dragon is small and frog-like with a squat, round purple body. Adult clematis dragons are about 1 foot long from head to tail and stand only 4 inches tall at the shoulder. They are short-lived, reaching 5 years of age at most, but mature and breed rapidly. Though they need water to reproduce, their adult forms are mostly terrestrial and arboreal. They are excellent climbers, decent swimmers, and can jump two body lengths without much effort.

Adult clematis dragons store toxins in a special gland located within their throats. This gland can burst if the body is punctured, making the dragon poisonous to predators that attempt to eat it. The toxin gland can be harvested for use by alchemists and assassins, who have learned how to distill clematis dragon's poison into a potent sedative that can cause a complete lack of bodily sensation when it circulates through the bloodstream. Clematis dragons lick themselves all over to coat their petals in a powerful defensive toxin.