Ashida Dragon

The Ashida Dragons are Tobura lizards genetically modified and selectively bred by Dr. Ashida to be enlarged to the size of a crocodile at over 14 feet in length and with a more vicious temperament. Ashida's selective breeding and genetic alterations also changed the tobura lizard from similar to other monitor lizards, to having fangs, spines down the back, and a rumbling bellow vocalization. The natives of the land noticed the new lizards' close resemblance to their mythic dragons, Kamatomo, and named them accordingly. As master of the dragons, Dr. Ashida developed a god-complex and supplanted Kamatomo as the focus of worship.

Dr. Ashida had his manservant Sumi, a champion sumo wrestler, act as referee and tamer of the dragons. Sumi would host battles between dragons where they would fight to the death, the victor being allowed to breed and devour the loser. Sumi later used a pair of dragons as hunting hounds to track down the Quest team, which they barely escaped with their lives. At his failure to kill them, Dr. Ashida further abused and assaulted Sumi; who tolerated the ill-treatment no longer. The sumo champion grabbed and threw the mad doctor to his dragons, letting his own beasts devour him.

Appearances

 * Jonny Quest (1964 TV series)
 * 114. Dragons of Ashida