Komodo Dragon

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Komodo dragon images (Varanus komodoensis) - stock photos & facts showing the world's largest lizard, endemic and threatened monitor

Conservation status | Vulnerable
Scientific classification edit > Kingdom: Animalia > Phylum: Chordata > Class: Reptilia > Order: Squamata > Family: Varanidae > Genus: Varanus > Subgenus: Varanus > Species: V. komodoensis
Binomial name | Varanus komodoensis

The Komodo dragon, also known as the Komodo monitor, Varanus komodoensis, is the world’s largest living lizard, and can grow to over 10 feet long, and weigh up to 360 pounds. They are endemic to the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia, including the island of Komodo, where they build burrows for protection at night when they sleep. They have long, flat heads with rounded snouts, scaly skin, bowed legs, and huge, muscular tails, and live to around 30 years old.

Komodo dragons eat almost any kind of meat, including carrion, deer, pigs, smaller Komodo dragons, water buffalo and even humans. There have been eight recorded instances of attacks on humans since Komodo has become a national park, mostly on the island of Rinca.

Although they can briefly sprint up to 13 miles an hour, Komodo dragons rely on camouflage and patience, lying in wait along game trails for passing prey. When prey passes, the dragon will attack the feet of larger animals, or the neck of smaller ones, with an intent to bring it to the ground and tear it to shreds. It has sharp claws and teeth that are large, curved, and serrated, and tear flesh efficiently. Even when it is unsuccessful in killing the prey, if the prey has been bitten, the toxic venom and bacteria in the dragon’s saliva will kill the prey by blood poisoning and a decrease in the ability of the blood to clot within a few days. The dragon may follow the prey until is succumbs, or will detect the dead body by its smell.

The Komodo dragon uses its sense of smell as its main prey detector. It senses odors with its long yellow forked tongue, and uses a swinging motion of its head to detect direction of the smell. It can find carrion from over two miles away. A kill is usually shared by many Komodo dragons and very little is wasted. The dominant male feeds first, followed by other dragons in order of size until almost the entire carcass has been eaten.

Males will fight in a ritual combat to win a female, using their tails for support, they wrestle in upright stance, grabbing each other with their forelegs as they attempt to throw the opponent to the ground. After drawing blood, the loser runs away or stays lying down motionless. The winning male flicks his tongue on the female’s nose and all over her body in courtship, and when ready will mate the female. Female Komodo dragons lay a clutch of around 30 eggs in nests dug in the ground by the females, and will incubate for about nine months. Hatchlings emerge and weigh less than 3.5 ounces and are about 16 inches long.
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