Gemshard Dragon

Gemshard Dragons were released on March 28, 2015, alongside Plated Colossus and Striped River Dragons.

Gemshards have six color variants. The dragon's color cannot be determined until the egg has hatched, and the chance to get any color is influenced by the day the egg was created.

Gemshard eggs have a unique cracking sequence where the gems on the egg fall off as the egg hatches.

Egg
This egg is encrusted with colorful gemstones.

Hatchling
''Aww... It’s a cute baby dragon. It has bright, shiny scales and loves to play in the sunlight.''

Mature hatchling
''Aww... It’s a cute baby dragon. It has bright, shiny scales and loves to play in the sunlight.''

''And look! It’s grown a forked spade at the end of its tail and long, tufted whiskers! It must be close to maturing.''

Adult
''Gemshard Dragons are small, gregarious, expressive easterns, living in large clans high in the jungle canopy. Their bodies are covered in tiny, gem-like scales that shimmer in direct light, and each dragon has a unique pattern of markings on the forked spade of its tail. Though Gemshard Easterns cannot fly, they often leap from springy branches high into the sky on sunny days and perform acrobatic spins and twirls to entertain themselves. When the weather turns foul, they pile up together on sturdy tree limbs and interlock the forks of their tails with others to keep warm and dry.''

Sprite artists

 * Odeen (All)

Variant determination
Prior to the 15th Birthday release Gemshard variants were entirely random. Alongside the introduction of three new variants, the 15th Birthday release also implemented a time-based mechanic which influences variant depending on the day of the week the Gemshard egg was created.

Trivia

 * After a user commented that laying gemstone-studded eggs must be painful, Odeen revealed that the gems are not produced within the bodies of the dragons, but rather added manually to the eggshells for protection before they harden.
 * The original three colors were referred to by Odeen as ruby, jade, and azure. Following the release of an additional three variants, the variants were referred to as ruby, jade, sapphire, citrine, amethyst, and aqua or aquamarine.

Additional information
Regarding Gemshard tail-interlocking behavior:

Odeen also responded to a remark on similarities between Gemshards and World of Warcraft's Cloud Serpents: