The dragon of the week is a personal favorite of ours, the grootslang (also known as the grote slang, with both words coming from Dutch and Afrikaans for "big snake"). The grootslang, native to South Africa, is described as part elephant, part snake. In fact, when the gods realized that the grootslang was too powerful and intelligent, they split its component parts to create two separate creatures - snakes and elephants.
Like other, more "traditional looking" dragons, the grootslang has a lust for diamonds and, despite its tendency to kill humans, one who offers the grootslang a jewel may be granted his life.
Depictions of the grootslang always include references to snakes and elephants, though in different combinations. You can see some that have been posted to the internet here.
When drawing the grootslang, Rachel made his skin pale due to the fact that the grootslang lives in caves away from the sunlight.
Despite his unusual appearance, the grootslang covets diamonds and jewels, is clever and powerful, is related to snakes, and lives in caves. Do you agree with us that he is a dragon?
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