If cornered, they may react aggressively by gaping their mouth, hissing, and swinging their tail. Although males tend to grow larger and bulkier than females, no obvious morphological differences mark the sexes. A Komodo dragon may attempt to speed up the process by ramming the carcass against a tree to force it down its throat, sometimes ramming so forcefully, the tree is knocked down. [40] Sixteen youngsters from a single nest were on average 46.5 cm long and weighed 105.1 grams. Both hatchlings were males.[62][63]. 2007: A Komodo dragon killed an 8-year-old boy on Komodo Island. [73] Later, the Wae Wuul and Wolo Tado Reserves were opened on Flores to aid Komodo dragon conservation. Komodo Dragon Varanus komodoensis Don’t get bitten by a Komodo dragon! According to data from Komodo National Park spanning a 38-year period between 1974 and 2012, there were 24 reported attacks on humans, five of them fatal. The eggs are incubated for seven to eight months, hatching in April, when insects are most plentiful. A member of the monitor lizard family Varanidae, it is the largest extant species of lizard, growing to a maximum length of 3 metres (10 ft) in rare cases and weighing up to approximately 70 kilograms (150 lb). [29] Komodo dragons take approximately 8 to 9 years to mature, and may live for up to 30 years. Komodo dragons hunt and ambush prey including invertebrates, birds, and mammals. Sometimes they consume human corpses, digging up bodies from shallow graves. Find out more with these excellent and informative fact sheets and explore your world. [66], Attacks on humans are rare, but Komodo dragons have been responsible for several human fatalities, in both the wild and in captivity. Their large size and fearsome reputation make them popular zoo exhibits. The term “dragon” fits perfectly with the Komodo monitor (Varanus komodoensis) – the largest living lizard on Earth…Classification. [38] The study used samples from 16 captive dragons (10 adults and six neonates) from three US zoos. [43], The Komodo dragon drinks by sucking water into its mouth via buccal pumping (a process also used for respiration), lifting its head, and letting the water run down its throat. The Komodo dragon has venom glands loaded with toxins that lower blood pressure, cause massive bleeding, prevent clotting, and induce shock. These powerful predators are found throughout a small group of Indonesian Islands, including Rinca, Flores and Komodo Island. Widespread notoriety came after 1912, when Peter Ouwens, the director of the Zoological Museum at Bogor, Java, published a paper on the topic after receiving a photo and a skin from the lieutenant, as well as two other specimens from a collector. [3], The first two live Komodo dragons to arrive in Europe were exhibited in the Reptile House at London Zoo when it opened in 1927. Thus providing further evidence that the Komodo dragon had once inhabited Australia. Most of the victims were local villagers living around the national park. They serve as strategic locations from which to ambush deer. For smaller prey up to the size of a goat, their loosely articulated jaws, flexible skulls, and expandable stomachs allow them to swallow prey whole. [11] As of May 2009, there were 35 North American, 13 European, one Singaporean, two African, and two Australian institutions which housed captive Komodo dragons. [8] These special resting places, usually located on ridges with cool sea breezes, are marked with droppings and are cleared of vegetation. [57], Young Komodo dragons spend much of their first few years in trees, where they are relatively safe from predators, including cannibalistic adults, as juvenile dragons make up 10% of their diets. [67] Reports of attacks include:[68], The Komodo dragon is classified by the IUCN as a vulnerable species and is listed on the IUCN Red List. This task was given to the Auffenberg family, who stayed on Komodo Island for 11 months in 1969. [23], The Komodo dragon prefers hot and dry places and typically lives in dry, open grassland, savanna, and tropical forest at low elevations. [39] When the young approach a kill, they roll around in faecal matter and rest in the intestines of eviscerated animals to deter these hungry adults. 2009: Maen, a national park guide stationed on Rinca Island, was ambushed and bitten by a Komodo dragon which had walked into his office and lay under his desk. Source:istock A TOURIST who refused to pay for a tour guide was mauled by a fearsome Komodo dragon in Indonesia. [5] Joan Beauchamp Procter made some of the earliest observations of these animals in captivity and she demonstrated their behaviour at a Scientific Meeting of the Zoological Society of London in 1928. [23], For shelter, the Komodo dragon digs holes that can measure from 1 to 3 m (3.3 to 9.8 ft) wide with its powerful forelimbs and claws. [55], A Komodo dragon at London Zoo named Sungai laid a clutch of eggs in late 2005 after being separated from a male company for more than two years. The biological significance of these proteins is disputed, but the glands have been shown to secrete an anticoagulant. [22] The largest verified wild specimen was 3.13 m (10.3 ft) long and weighed 166 kg (366 lb), including its undigested food. I’m a gorgeous Komodo dragon. A Komodo dragon will produce a lethal bite, although it can take up to four days for their prey to die! The best known monitor lizard is the biggest species, the Komodo Dragon. [32] Because of its large size and habit of sleeping in these burrows, it is able to conserve body heat throughout the night and minimise its basking period the morning after. The most recent attempt was in March 2019, when Indonesian police in the East Java city of Surabaya reported that a criminal network had been caught trying to smuggle 41 young Komodo dragons out of Indonesia. [47], In late 2005, researchers at the University of Melbourne speculated the perentie (Varanus giganteus), other species of monitors, and agamids may be somewhat venomous. It has been hypothesised that this reproductive adaptation allows a single female to enter an isolated ecological niche (such as an island) and by parthenogenesis produce male offspring, thereby establishing a sexually reproducing population (via reproduction with her offspring that can result in both male and female young). Introducing the world’s largest species of lizard, right here at Australia Zoo – the incredible Komodo dragon! Older animals will also retreat from humans from a shorter distance away. A Komodo dragon walks on a beach on Komodo island, Indonesia, Thursday, April 30, 2009. [33] The Komodo dragon hunts in the afternoon, but stays in the shade during the hottest part of the day. The researchers extracted one of these glands from the head of a terminally ill dragon in the Singapore Zoological Gardens, and found it secreted several different toxic proteins. When a female Komodo dragon (with ZW sex chromosomes) reproduces in this manner, she provides her progeny with only one chromosome from each of her pairs of chromosomes, including only one of her two sex chromosomes. [14] The first Komodo dragons were displayed at London Zoo in 1927. Only very few cases are truly the result of unprovoked attacks by atypical individuals who lost their fear of humans. [64] Despite the advantages of such an adaptation, zoos are cautioned that parthenogenesis may be detrimental to genetic diversity. Attacks on humans by Komodo dragons — said to … [30], As with many other reptiles, the Komodo dragon primarily relies on its tongue to detect, taste, and smell stimuli, with the vomeronasal sense using the Jacobson's organ, rather than using the nostrils. [88], CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (, Komodo Indonesian Fauna Museum and Reptile Park, "Dragon's Paradise Lost: Palaeobiogeography, Evolution and Extinction of the Largest-Ever Terrestrial Lizards (Varanidae)", 10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T22884A9396736.en, "Komodo National Park Frequently Asked Questions", "American Museum of Natural History: Komodo Dragons", "Trapping Komodo Dragons for Conservation", "Ora (Komodo Island Monitor or Komodo Dragon)", "Australia was 'hothouse' for killer lizards", "Dragon's paradise lost: palaeobiogeography, evolution and extinction of the largest-ever terrestrial lizards (Varanidae)", "Molecular evidence for an Asian origin of monitor lizards followed by Tertiary dispersals to Africa and Australasia", "Mitochondrial DNA evidence and evolution in, "A Comprehensive Approach to Detect Hybridization Sheds Light on the Evolution of Earth's Largest Lizards", "Here's Why Komodo Dragons are the Toughest Lizards on Earth", "Elaborate Komodo dragon armor defends against other dragons", "Here be dragons: The mythic bite of the Komodo", "The terrifying truth about Komodo dragons", "Aerobic salivary bacteria in wild and captive Komodo dragons", "Anaerobic and aerobic bacteriology of the saliva and gingiva from 16 captive Komodo dragons (, "Komodo dragon-inspired synthetic peptide DRGN-1 promotes wound-healing of a mixed-biofilm infected wound", "Early evolution of the venom system in lizards and snakes", "A central role for venom in predation by, Komodo dragons kill with venom, not bacteria, study says, "Reptile Venom Glands Form, Function, and Future", "Chemicals in Dragon's Glands Stir Venom Debate", "Distribution, use and selection of nest type by Komodo dragons", "Komodo Dragons, World's Largest Lizards, Have Virgin Births", "Wise men testify to Dragon's virgin birth", "Komodo dragons hatch with no male involved", "Strange but True: Komodo Dragons Show that "Virgin Births" Are Possible: Scientific American", "5 Kasus keganasan komodo liar menyerang manusia", "The Most Infamous Komodo Dragon Attacks of the Past 10 Years An 8-year old boy; a group of stranded divers; a celebrity's husband: Just a few of the recent victims of Komodo dragon attacks", S'porean trourist bitten by Komodo dragon was trying to snap photos', "Singaporean tourist bitten by Komodo dragon", Worker rushed to hospital after being bitten by komodo dragon', "The official website of Komodo National Park, Indonesia", "Zipcodezoo: Varanus komodoensis (Komodo Dragon, Komodo Island Monitor, Komodo Monitor)", Police foil attempt to export Komodo dragons for Rp 500 million apiece', Lax security at Florest ports allows Komodo dragon smuggling', "Komodo population continues to decline at national park", "Transcript: Sharon Stone vs. the Komodo Dragon", "Editor stable after attack by Komodo dragon / Surgeons reattach foot tendons of Chronicle's Bronstein in L.A.", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Komodo_dragon&oldid=1004556468, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages, Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Welcome to Perth Zoo [12], Komodo dragons generally avoid encounters with humans. [29], Female Komodos lay their eggs from August to September and may use several types of locality; in one study, 60% laid their eggs in the nests of orange-footed scrubfowl (a moundbuilder or megapode), 20% on ground level and 20% in hilly areas. They have strong jaw muscles and serrated teeth in order to efficiently tear and eat large chunks of meat. Where lizards typically have one or two varying patterns or shapes of osteoderms, komodo's have four: rosette, platy, dendritic, and vermiform. This venomous reptile can be seen soaking up the Sun’s rays and just being drop-dead gorgeous! The Somersby Animal Hospital on the Central Coast of Australia has had an unusual visitor as Kraken the Komodo Dragon from the Australian Reptile Park visited for his annual health check. [4], The Komodo dragon has a tail as long as its body, as well as about 60 frequently replaced, serrated teeth that can measure up to 2.5 cm (1 in) in length. Komodo dragons do not deliberately allow the prey to escape with fatal injuries but try to kill prey outright using a combination of lacerating damage and blood loss. [29], The Komodo dragon can see objects as far away as 300 m (980 ft), but because its retinas only contain cones, it is thought to have poor night vision. [34], As a result of their size, Komodo dragons dominate the ecosystems in which they live. During their stay, Walter Auffenberg and his assistant Putra Sastrawan captured and tagged more than 50 Komodo dragons. Its saliva is frequently blood-tinged because its teeth are almost completely covered by gingival tissue that is naturally lacerated during feeding. They are capable of running rapidly in brief sprints up to 20 km/h (12 mph), diving up to 4.5 m (15 ft), and climbing trees proficiently when young through use of their strong claws. In June 2001, a Komodo dragon seriously injured Phil Bronstein, the then-husband of actress Sharon Stone, when he entered its enclosure at the Los Angeles Zoo after being invited in by its keeper. They grow to an average length of 2–3 meters (approximately 6.5–10 ft) and weigh around 70 kg (154 pounds). In the wild, their range has contracted due to human activities, and they are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. [60] Scientists at Liverpool University in England performed genetic tests on three eggs that collapsed after being moved to an incubator, and verified Flora had never been in physical contact with a male dragon. The team believes the immediate effects of bites from these lizards were caused by mild envenomation. Goannas (better known as monitor lizards) belong to the family Varanidae, which also includes the world's largest living lizard, the Komodo dragon. Right now, I am 185 centimetres long and weigh 20 kilograms, but I’ve got a bit more growing to do over the next few years. [29] The habit of cannibalism may be advantageous in sustaining the large size of adults, as medium-sized prey on the islands is rare. Due to the increasing threats of habitat destruction, poaching and natural disasters, these dragons are considered a vulnerable species. Lifespan-The average lifespan of monitor lizard species varies from 8 to 30 years. [21] According to Guinness World Records, an average adult male will weigh 79 to 91 kg (174 to 201 lb) and measure 2.59 m (8.5 ft), while an average female will weigh 68 to 73 kg (150 to 161 lb) and measure 2.29 m (7.5 ft). Weighing around 70 kilograms and growing up to three metres long, the Komodo dragon is regarded as the world's largest lizard. As an ectotherm, it is most active in the day, although it exhibits some nocturnal activity. May 2017: Lon Lee Alle, a 50-year-old Singaporean tourist (or Loh Lee Aik, said to be 68), was attacked by a Komodo dragon on Komodo Island. Collecting expeditions ground to a halt with the occurrence of World War II, not resuming until the 1950s and 1960s, when studies examined the Komodo dragon's feeding behavior, reproduction, and body temperature. [34] The Komodo dragon may have evolved to feed on the extinct dwarf elephant Stegodon that once lived on Flores, according to evolutionary biologist Jared Diamond. It occurs on Komodo Island and a few neighbouring islands of the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia. Fossils, from 50,000 years ago, show they used to live in Australia once upon a time! Sexing Komodos remains a challenge for human researchers; the dragons themselves appear to have little trouble figuring out who is who. Interestingly, there is also a dragon family of lizards in Australia (the Agamidae), but the Komodo Dragon isn't a dragon, it's a monitor (family Varanidae). These osteoderms are absent in hatchlings and juveniles, indicating that the natural armor develops as a product of age and competition between adults for protection in intraspecific combat over food and mates. Owen used a modification of the Greek word ἠλαίνω ēlainō ("I roam"). [79] It is widely assumed that the Komodo dragon died out on Padar following a major decline of populations of large ungulate prey, for which poaching was most likely responsible. The giant lizard, which roamed Australia about … [76] It was believed that the Komodo dragons had been smuggled out of East Nusa Tenggara province through the port at Ende in central Flores. Komodo dragons can reach the length of a small car, and their … The researchers said the ancestor of the Komodo dragon most likely evolved in Australia and spread westward, reaching the Indonesian island of Flores by 900,000 years ago. [4][28] They were formerly thought to be deaf when a study reported no agitation in wild Komodo dragons in response to whispers, raised voices, or shouts. These males may vomit or defecate when preparing for the fight. [29] This habit of raiding graves caused the villagers of Komodo to move their graves from sandy to clay ground, and pile rocks on top of them, to deter the lizards. Like other reptiles, Komodo dragons … The Komodo dragon, (Varanus komodoensis), also known as the komodo monitor, is a large species of lizard found in the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang, and Padar.A member of the monitor lizard family it is the largest living species of lizard, growing to a maximum length of 3 metres (10 ft) in rare cases and weighing up to approximately 70 kilograms (150 lbs). [84] Komodo dragons have also been observed to engage in play with a variety of objects, including shovels, cans, plastic rings, and shoes. They may look large and lumbering, but these lizards are all muscle and … [37], Although previous studies proposed that Komodo dragon saliva contains a variety of highly septic bacteria that would help to bring down prey,[40][44] research in 2013 suggested that the bacteria in the mouths of Komodo dragons are ordinary and similar to those found in other carnivores. [1][15], Dramatic lowering of sea level during the last glacial period uncovered extensive stretches of continental shelf that the Komodo dragon colonised, becoming isolated in their present island range as sea levels rose afterwards. Male progeny prove Flora's unfertilized eggs were haploid (n) and doubled their chromosomes later to become diploid (2n) (by being fertilized by a polar body, or by chromosome duplication without cell division), rather than by her laying diploid eggs by one of the meiosis reduction-divisions in her ovaries failing. After regurgitating the gastric pellet, it rubs its face in the dirt or on bushes to get rid of the mucus, suggesting it does not relish the scent of its own excretions. The plan was said to include shipping the animals to several other countries in Southeast Asia through Singapore. Komodo dragon, Komodo monitor (Varanus komodoensis)The legendary dragon appears out of nowhere, is ruthless, terrifying, and intriguing in its own way because little is known about it. [4][55] During this period, males fight over females and territory by grappling with one another upon their hind legs, with the loser eventually being pinned to the ground. © 2021 Australia Zoo. [78] On Padar, a former population of Komodo dragons has recently become extinct, of which the last individuals were seen in 1975. When suitable prey arrives near a dragon's ambush site, it will suddenly charge at the animal at high speeds and go for the underside or the throat.[23]. Losers usually retreat, though they have been known to be killed and eaten by victors. [29] As it matures, its claws are used primarily as weapons, as its great size makes climbing impractical. 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