Varanus Komodoensis, the Komodo Dragon

The Komodo dragon, or Varanus komodoensis, is the largest living species of lizard on Earth today. These beasts can be found on the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, and Gili Motang. The largest, verified, wild Komodo dragon was 10.3 feet long and weighed almost 370 pounds. Because of their immense size, these reptiles generally dominate their ecosystems. They east mostly carrion, which is dead and decaying flesh. Scientists suspect that Komodo dragons can live as long as 30 years, though this is still widely researched.

Etymology

The Komodo dragon is also known as the Komodo monitor, or the Komodo Island monitor. The natives of Komodo Island refer to this lizard as "ora" and "buaya durat", both meaning "land crocodile". They are also called "baiwak raksasa" meaning "giant monitor".

Physical Characteristics

Male Komodo monitors usually grow up to 8 to 10 feet in length, and weigh as much as 200-250 pounds. The females are mostly under 8 feet long and weigh between 150 and 200 pounds. Like all other monitor lizards, the Komodo monitor is a very good swimmer. Long, yellow, deeply forked tongues and a tail that can match the length of its body are two more traits of the Komodo monitor.

The Komodo dragon possesses about 60 teeth that are laterally compressed and have serrated edges, they also have very flexible skulls which allow them to swallow a lot of their prey whole.

A Komodo monitor's mouth is covered in a virulent bacteria. In the event that the lizard's prey survives the initial attack, the infection left behind by the bacteria will eventually kill the already weak prey.

While young, a Komodo dragon can live in trees, this later becomes impractical, because of the monitors large body size. While the Komodo dragon is living in a tree it eats insects, birds, eggs, and other small reptiles that venture into its territory. During this stage of life the dragon rarely leaves its tree other than to find carrion.

Natural Habitat

The Komodo monitor is known to live in open grassland, savannah, and tropical rainforests at low elevations. These kinds of habitats are usually found in hot, dry regions. These areas allow for good shelter and gives the dragons an advantage when it comes to hunting as it is known to ambush its prey and can briefly sprint as fast as 12.4 miles per hour. For shelter these lizards will dig into the ground, creating burrows that can be anywhere from 3 to 10 feet wide.

Behavioral Characteristics

Komodos are mostly solitary creatures, in most cases only coming together to feed or to mate. When Komodos do come together however, the largest males will sometimes fight to assert dominance over each other. When two Komodo dragons fight, the loser is usually pinned to the ground and will sometimes be killed and eaten by the victor.

Komodo dragons are mostly active during the day, hunting in the afternoon, but spending most of the hottest part of the day in the shade. The places chosen by these monsters are usually very breezy places that are good for ambushing deer and other prey. A dragon will mark its territory with droppings, and the resting place will generally be cleared of all vegetation.

Although it is a very rare occurrence, Komodo attacks on humans are not unheard of. In June of 2007, an 8 year old boy was attacked by a komodo dragon that wandered into a human populated area of Komodo Island. While the over-sized lizard did not directly kill the boy, the boy later died from extreme blood loss. This was the first recorded fatal attack on a human in 33 years. Island natives believe that this never would have happened if environmentalist groups hadn't forbid the village from offering sacrificial goats to the Komodos, causing them to wander into human territory in search of something to eat.

Food and Diet

A Komodo monitor's diet consist of mostly carrion, or dead and decaying flesh. However, Komodos are known to hunt as well. While hunting, a Komodo dragon will ambush its prey by rushing the victim and attacking the underside of its throat. Komodo dragons eat by ripping off large pieces of its dinner, holding the carcass to the ground with its forelegs. For some smaller prey the Komodo monitor doesn't need to rip off pieces as it can simply swallow the prey whole. Some food eaten by the Komodo dragon can take over 20 minutes to swallow. To keep from suffocating, the dragons utilize a small hole located under their tongues that connect directly to the lungs to breath.

After a Komodo monitor eats most of its body weigh in a single meal, it will find a nice warm, sunny area and bask in the daylight. Since this lizard has such a low metabolism, it needs a meal as little as 12 times a year.

Birth and Offspring

Komodo dragons will usually mate sometime between May and August, and the females will lay their eggs in September. During the mating season males fight and grapple for the females attention. After one male pins another to the ground, asserting his dominance, he will flick his long tongue at the female of his choice to show his interest.

Senses

The Komodo monitor's excellent sense of smell allows for these mammoth lizards to detect food that is up to 6 miles away. And with the ability to see almost 1,000 feet, the Komodo's sense of sight isn't lacking either. However, the retinas of a Komodo dragon lacks rod cells that help with seeing in low lighting, because of this it is believed that Komodos don't see very well in the dark. The tongue is also a very useful receptor for the Komodo dragon, it is used to smell, taste, and detect prey or food.

On the other hand, Komodos lack the ability to hear very well, even though they have clearly visible ear holes. The nostrils of the beast are also ineffective, because these monsters lack diaphragms. The Komodo dragon possesses a few taste buds at the back of its mouth, but does not have as many as a humans tongue does.

Predators of the Komodo Monitor

The Komodo monitor is one of the few animals at the top of the food chain. Along with being at the top of their ecosystem, they are cannibalistic by nature, meaning they will eat other Komodo dragons.

The Varanus komodoensis is an endangered species whose biggest threat is not another animal, but a natural occurrence. The biggest threat to Komodo dragons is currently volcanic activity and fires that are destroying their natural habitats. Komodo monitors are also being threatened by forest clearing operations.