Salamence family

Salamence. Based on Dimetrodon, and a synapsid like every other dragontype. Note that no normal pokemon is smart enough to understand speech, but they can be taught simple commands (such as telling them when to use fire-breath or when to back off). Salamence is very loyal when raised from hatchlings, but catching an adult salamence is beyond dangerous, and they will attack their trainer if let out of the pokeball.

They can't fly, but they have a large sac of hydrogen in their body which they use to make themselves light enough for long glides. The salamence adjusts its height by breathing fire, and also uses the fire as a defensive measure.

They hunt by stalking, and since their prey is colorblind, they aren't hindered much by their bright colors (used for mating purposes). The salamence first sneaks up to intended prey, lunges forward and bites the prey, usually in the leg or thigh. They then follow the bleeding prey, forcing it to keep moving and making it bleed to death.

Bagon and shellgon are juveniles, and an adult salamence brings them food to the nest. Bagons grow lighter as they age, and grow thick defensive plates during the time they explore about, in order to keep safe from predators. They do not stray far, and if they find themselves lost, they shriek in a high-pitched note which attracts one of the parents to lead them back home.
Salamence nest in pairs, and may have up to three hatchlings per year. Previous years' hatchlings may stick around home until they are two years old, making the salamence's most common group size a family.