oh yeah, turns out the bestiary website has context notes

according to medieval manuscripts,

dragons and elephants are mortal enemies, dragons are beasts of fire, so when elephants are in water, dragons can't do anything

dragons also hate the shadow of the fictitious peridexion tree

kill man with their poison not with fangs or claws,

can have a second head on the tail,

wings are common but optional,

and are the only beast afraid of panthers