Antipodean Opaleye

The Antipodean Opaleye is a breed of dragon native to New Zealand, though it is also known to migrate to Australia. It is widely regarded as the most beautiful of all dragon species, distinguished by its pearly scales and opalescent, multi-coloured eyes. Despite its Ministry of Magic Classification of XXXXX (lethal / wizard-killer), it is generally less aggressive than other dragons.

The Antipodean Opaleye is unique among dragons for preferring to dwell in valleys rather than mountains. Its native habitat is New Zealand, but its territory can extend across the sea to Australia. A notable historical event involving the species occurred in the late 1970s, when a wave of mysterious kangaroo deaths in Australia was traced back to a male Opaleye. It was discovered that the dragon had been forced from his territory in New Zealand by a more dominant female, demonstrating the species' capacity for long-distance migration when faced with territorial disputes.

The Antipodean Opaleye is a medium-sized dragon, weighing between two and three tonnes. Its most striking physical characteristics are its iridescent, pearly scales and its glittering, multi-coloured eyes which lack pupils, giving them the appearance of opals. This stunning appearance is the reason it is considered the most beautiful dragon breed. In terms of personality, the Opaleye is not considered particularly aggressive for a dragon. It typically hunts only when it is hungry and is less prone to unprovoked attacks than species like the Hungarian Horntail or Ukrainian Ironbelly.

As a fully grown dragon, the Antipodean Opaleye possesses powerful innate magical abilities common to its species.

• Dragon Fire: It produces a very vivid, scarlet-coloured flame.
• Flight: It is a strong flier, capable of making the trans-oceanic journey between New Zealand and Australia.
• Magical Resistance: Like all dragons, its hide is extremely durable and provides a high degree of resistance to most charms and spells.

While the species does not have possessions in the conventional sense, it produces distinctive eggs. The eggs of an Antipodean Opaleye are pale grey and can be easily mistaken for fossils by Muggles, who may not recognise their true nature.

The Antipodean Opaleye's primary prey is sheep, but it is known to hunt larger animals such as kangaroos when its preferred food source is scarce or it is driven into a new environment. Within its own species, territorial conflicts can occur, leading to weaker individuals being driven out of their native lands. Charlie Weasley, a known dragon expert, expressed a particular fondness for the breed, calling it his “favourite”.

The name Antipodean Opaleye is directly descriptive of the dragon's origins and most prominent feature.

• Antipodean: This adjective refers to the Antipodes, a term used by people in the Northern Hemisphere to describe Australia and New Zealand, which is the dragon's native habitat.
• Opaleye: This is a compound of “opal” and “eye,” a clear reference to its signature glittering, multi-coloured, and pupil-less eyes.

The primary source of canonical information on the Antipodean Opaleye is the textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The breed is also mentioned in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire when Charlie Weasley is discussing the dragons selected for the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament with Rubeus Hagrid. Charlie suggests that the task would have been much easier had the champions faced an Opaleye. The Antipodean Opaleye also appears as a species in the Hogwarts Legacy video game (video game).