Don't be too disappointed when you hear that this creature isn't a real-life fire-breathing Game of Thrones character, but rather a large diurnal lizard with vibrant green scales and a black striped tail. Nevertheless, the Chinese Water Dragon is still pretty fierce, boasting excellent swimming skills and the ability to stay underwater for up to 25 minutes, often diving from overhanging branches to escape predators.

When fully grown, Chinese Water Dragons can reach up to 90 centimetres long, with tails making up over 70% of that length. These semi-arboreal creatures split their time between unpolluted streams and roosting on branches in dense subtropical forests. Unfortunately, their charismatic appearance has led to overharvesting for the pet trade and meat market, especially in Vietnam.