Komodo Dragon

The komodo dragon is a large reptile that lives on the Indoesian islands of Komodo (what it was named for), Rintja, Padar, and Flores. There are few of these “dragons” living in the wild, an estimated 1000 to 5000. They are scaly, dark green creatures. The males can reach up to almost 9 feet, and 200 pounds, and the females can reach up to almost 8 feet, and 150 pounds. They usually live to 20 years old. They are carnivores that feed on almost anything, and this includes deer, goat, wild boar, smaller komodos, and will eat carrion. The komodo is usually solitary, except to feed, or mate. They are diurnal, which means they are active in the day, they have good eyesight, and are good swimmers. Komodo ambush their prey, and bacteria in their mouth usually causes it to die from blood poisoning. If the prey escapes, it will die in 1-2 days, or the komodo will track it down. Sometimes, the komodo will travel up to four miles after its prey. These animals are endangered because of habitat destruction on the islands.

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Other important facts:

Komodo Dragon

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Sauria
Family: Varanidae
Genus: Varanus
Species: komodoensis Category: Reptiles » lizards common Name: Monitor - Komodo Dragon
Other Common Names: Komodo Monitor, Giant Monitor, Land Crocodile, Ora
Range:
Komodo Dragons are found exclusively on the islands of Komodo, Rinca, Padar, Flores, and the Sunda Islands
Habitat:
Warm climates; desert and tropical regions
Status:
Protected
Characteristics
The Komodo dragon undergoes a color change during their lifetime. Juveniles to about age four vary in color including yellow, green, brown and gray and are often speckled and banded. Adult dragons are either earthen red or slate gray to black. Also characteristic of reptiles, the dragons have very rough, armor-like bodies. Komodo dragons also have a long bright yellow forked tongue which may have helped inspire early dragon legends in Asia.

Behavior
Despite their great size, Komodo dragons are quick and agile on the ground, they can climb trees by gripping them with their large claws, and are also good swimmers, using their tails to propel them. The first several years of a dragon's life is spent in trees, keeping them safe from predators including adult dragons. Adults can often be found basking in areas exposed to direct sunlight. The Komodo dragon hunts by stalking its prey. The prey can be killed with a single bite, because of the bacteria in the Komodos saliva, but death can take from 2-4 days. This is not a problem for the dragon as its long, yellow forked tongue is chemo-sensitive and the dragon tracks the prey until it dies and then eats it.

Reproduction
Komodo dragons breed in June and July. 5 weeks after this, the female digs a hole in the ground and lays about a dozen eggs. She then covers them and leaves them to incubate unattended, relying on the sun to keep them at the proper temperature. The young hatch eight months later. Barely 8 inches long, they are in danger of being eaten by almost every predator around. Those that survive grow quickly, and after 5 years, they will have reached 6 feet in length. Both males and females are mature enough to breed at around 6 years of age.
Lifespan
About 50 years.
Diet
Live prey and carrion, including insects, fish, reptiles, birds or mammals. They've even been known to eat younger Komodo dragons. Some Komodos have been observed gobbling down more than 80 percent of their body weight at one meal!
Predators
Man and other Komodo dragons.

Sources:

central pets
whozoo.com
hoglezoo.org

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