[Robert A Cook PE]

I think it only makes sense: a few bones were going to be found: and the "classic" T-rex and others absolutely look like the drragons of myth.

When the dinosaurs died, then flexed into twisted shapes as the muscles dried, the result is a "dragon-like" flying shape as well. (Or worm-like Chinese dragon...)

[Salamander]

I live in an area that's absolutely lousy with fossilized things in just about every rock lying around.

As a kid, I imagined all sorts of back stories for the fossil plants and critters, not knowing what they really were.

[yes, my imagination runs well beyond rampant in matters, mythological. it tends toward "berserk" actually]....;D

Back when I was very young, my parents had a coal furnace and the coal contained beautifully "pressed" ferns and other exotic plants.
I hated it that such lovely things wound up being burned as though they were nothing.
I wanted to keep each one but that eventually amassed into a very large and dirty collection.

I can easily accept the earthly origins of mythological beasties.
It makes perfect sense to me, really.

Imagine the thoughts of the first guy who ever found a Triceratops skull, for example.
Talk about getting your mind blown.....LOL!