Furry as a subculture isnt about furred creatures necessarily. Its about anthropomorphism and intelligent animal characters more broadly, and dragons both can be designed anthropomorphically or just generally tend to be intelligent in a good fraction of media. The association with fur for the name probably just comes from mammals being extremely popular animals to base character designs off of, if I had to guess.
“Furry” is not only a descriptor, it’s an umbrella term. It may have started as meaning “anthropomorphic character with fur,” but the word has since grown to mean “anthropomorphic character.” Some people will specify their preferences, such as therianthrope or scaley (non-exhaustive list), and I’ve seen some include tags like “anthro” on artwork along with the umbrella term of furry, but all anthropomorphic characters are considered to be under the umbrella of Furry.
There is also the fact that it’s the “Furry Fandom.” Which is how “furry” came to be the umbrella term.
There have been efforts in the past to distinguish, some people being adamant that they be referred to as “scalies,” but I think it was always a pointless division. It’s useful as a tag, not as an identity, not if we want to remain even remotely unified as a subculture.
This
Dragons are fantasy creatures so I can make one mammal if I want to.
Lots of dragons also have feathers too. Dragons are an insanely diverse group.
They are animalistic. That’s pretty much the whole kit and caboodle. Same reason you see birds, insects, ‘scalies’ as others have pointed out, some strange fuckers out there with fish things… straight up feral (not anthropomorphized) animals that talk, ones that don’t talk (and you’re really pushing the envelope there, I’d say, but they’re in the ‘fandom’), and then all the imagined beasties like dragons, mermaids, yetis, rakshashas, werewolves.
It’s a big grouping, and it’s much more organized by how much you want to be a part of it and how much the others ‘in’ the fandom are willing to welcome you (hint: the fandom is just about as welcoming as it gets…) which means there are a lot of things that are ‘in.’
It’s really all about them being non-human creatures. That’s ultimately what defines if something is furry. I think that’s a better description than saying “anthropomorphized animals” since not all furries are anthro, some are complete feral.
Scalies are also part of the furry community. Furry is a generic term describing anthropomorphic animals as well as non-human characters as a whole. It doesn’t mean they’re limited to having only fur.
I’ve heard anthropomorphic dragons referred to as “scalies” (as opposed to “furries”). So, they’re not, but it’s the same thing, just a different kind of creature.
I would say that for any furry who dresses up/has a fursona, the choice of the specific animal is a personal one, and, despite the name, it isn’t limited to foxes, dogs, cats, wolves, and the like (e.g. furry species). Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles had my generation and the next couple wanting to be turtles for years. “Heroes in a half-shell!” And while Skyrim popularised the term “Dragonborn,” the name existed prior in D&D as an actual race of anthropomorphic dragon men (and women) with breath weapons and all. Just not wings. Sometimes tails.
So… the scalies always were. As for whether or not they belong in the furry fandom… tis not for me to say. I’m just a fan, though I do have a cosplay that is furry-adjacent (Tom Nook from Animal Crossing).
Nardoragon
furries is just a term. its like gay and lesbian. why no term for male gay. because often when people said gay they meant gay males but sometimes they just meant gay for what it means. its not quite the same but furry is just slang and pegged to the majority thing and its catchy. Maybe it should be like anthros or something but it is what it is.
Yeah, “furry” is just a fandom term for “anthropomorphic character”. Adding stuff like “scalies” and such is fine, but it’s still all under the “furry” umbrella
I just like dragons
Because we like them
