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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
Komodo dragon |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Reptilia |
| ORDER: |
Squamata |
| FAMILY: |
Varanidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Varanus (monitor lizard) komodoensis
(belonging to Komodo) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
Terrestrial
multi-hued lizard with dark yellow, green, brown,
and gray scales in years 1-5; adults generally are
earthen red to gray and nearly black in various
species; have short, powerful limbs and tail; sharp
claws |
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| SIZE: |
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| MALE |
2.5-3.18 m (8½-10½ ft) total adult
body length |
| FEMALE |
1.8-1.96
m (6-6½ ft.) total adult body length |
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| WEIGHT: |
164.25 kg (365 lbs) maximum |
| MALE |
90.9-135 kg (200-300 lb.) |
| FEMALE |
34-56.8 kg (75-125 lb.) |
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| DIET: |
Carnivore;
boar, deer, water buffalo, civet cats, rats, birds,
fish, snakes, chickens, goats, eggs, carrion; up
to 10% of adult diets consist of smaller komodo
dragons |
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| INCUBATION: |
8-8.5 months |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
2-30
eggs |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
5-7 years |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
15-20
years; possibly longer |
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| RANGE: |
Sunda Islands of Indonesia |
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| HABITAT: |
Mainly forest and savanna, but also mangrove swamps,
open beach, steppe, and thickets |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
No
data |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Endangered |
| CITES |
Appendix I; numbers in decline due to habitat destruction |
| USFWS |
Endangered |
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| 1. |
Komodo
dragons are found on only four islands in Indonesia
with a total area approximately the size of Rhode
Island! |
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| 2. |
After hatching, the young immediately climb trees
to avoid being eaten by their cannibalistic elders. |
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| 3. |
Komodos are opportunistic carnivores whose saliva
contains several strains of virulent bacteria which
in turn causes severe infection that can lead to
blood poisoning and death in 1-5 days. |
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| 4. |
Komodos
have been known to dig up freshly buried humans
and eat the remains. Their sense of smell is so
keen they can detect the scent of carrion 5 miles
away! They have also been known to hunt in large
packs and bring down large prey. |
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| 5. |
They
are excellent swimmers and can cross great distances
and strong ocean currents just to raid neighboring
islands where the only available food source is
domestic animals. |
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| 6. |
Larger
dragons eat first, while smaller dragons get what's
left over. They have been known to eat up to 80%
of their body weight in one meal. |
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| 7. |
They
communicate through body language: hissing loudly
and inflating their throat. At times, their tails
are used to swipe the feet out from under prey. |
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| 8. |
Fat
stored in their tail can provide dragons with metabolic
water in times of drought, enabling them to go for
1 to 1½ months without eating or drinking. |
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| 9. |
These
members of the lizard family Varanus, have a forked
tongue that collects scent molecules for analysis.
Molecular analysis is conducted by the Jacobson's
Organ in the top of the mouth. |
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The komodo dragon has the smallest range of any
of the world's large carnivores, found only on the
islands of Komodo, Rinca, Gili Motang, and Flores.
It is also the primary predator of these islands
and therefore serves a vital role in nature. Zoologists
have shown that island species are more likely candidates
for extinction than mainland species because of
increased vulnerability to disease, competitors,
and natural disasters. On the islands, threats from
farmers clearing land for agriculture and killing
komodos to protect livestock add to the plight of
the dragons. A conservation program is an essential
element to the survival of this species. |
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|
|
Auffenberg, Walter. The Behavioral Ecology of
the Komodo Monitor. University Press of Florida,
University of Florida, Gainesville. 1981. |
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Lutz and Lutz. Komodo, The Living Dragon.
Dimi Press. Salem, Oregon. 1997. |
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Walsh, T., R. Rosscoe, and G.F. Birchard. "Dragon
Tales: The History, Husbandry, and Breeding of
Komodo Monitors at the National Zoological Park".
Vivarium 4(6):23-26. 1993.
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