Smaug is the dragon J.R.R. Tolkien created as the antagonist of The Hobbit.
Smaug occupies the Lonely Mountain, also called Erebor, after driving out the Dwarves of the kingdom under the mountain. He guards their immense treasure and becomes the central threat of Thorin Oakenshield’s quest. Bilbo Baggins enters the mountain as the company’s burglar and has a memorable conversation with the dragon.
Smaug is not Tolkien’s first or largest dragon. Glaurung appears in the older legends of The Silmarillion, while Ancalagon the Black is described as the greatest winged dragon. Smaug’s distinctive characterization comes from his intelligence, pride, greed, and ability to speak. His death occurs when Bard the Bowman uses a black arrow against a vulnerable area in his body.