Komodo Dragons

By. Malik Thornton Mrs. Confer Biology First Period

Taxonamy

Order: SquamataFamily: VaranidaeGenus/species: Varanus komodoensis

Komodo Dragons are part of the Monitor lizard family

Facts

They are the largest and heaviest lizard in the world.

A komodo dragon can grow up to 10 feet long and over 300 pounds.

It can run up to 11 mph but tires very quickly.

Diet

Komodo dragons are carnivores.

They are scavengers so they will eat any type of carrion.

To get live prey a komodo dragon will wait in ambush.

Defense and offensive mechanisms

Komodo dragons have many defensive  and offensive mechanisms like their muscular tails which can disable a foe in very few hits.

Their saliva in is full of viruses and bacteria which can easily disable a foe.

http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/life-komodo-dragons-hunt-buffalo.html

Reproduction

Mating usually occurs between May and August.

The eggs are usually laid in September.

During mating season males get very territorial.

They duel each other for females by using their tales and standing in upright positions.

The victor then mates with the female.

The female usually lays around thirty eggs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDLqEYvDeyM&feature=player_detailpage

Status and Life Span

Komodo dragons on average live for around 30 years in the wild.

They are currently on the endangered species list.

This is mainly due to their limited range, but also poaching.

Habitat

Komodo dragons are limited to a few volcanic islands in Indonesia of the Lesser Sunda Group including Komodo Island.

They are found in tropical savanna forest from beach to ridge top.

They try to stay cool in the day and hide in burrows at night to keep warm.

Life for a Komodo Dragon

They are at the top of the food chain on the few islands they inhabit.

They can smell food from over 2.5 miles so they are expert hunters.

Life for a Komodo Dragon cont.

They rely on stealth when hunting so they can ambush prey.

They don't eat their pray directlybut wait for their toxic venom to disable it.

Early Life

Young komodo dragons can climb trees.

they face the threat of being ate by bigger dragons.

they have to grow up alone without their mother.

Facts Cont.

A Komodo Dragon lives a life of leisure.

It generally eats two meals a day.

They often hunt alone and are rarely in packs.

Say What!!! Facts

Komodo Dragons were only discovered 100 years ago when a plane crashed near their islands.

Komodo Dragons have been reported to attack humans.

More Intresting facts

Unlike other lizards, a Komodo Dragon keeps one mate in it's life.

Some Komodo Dragons can give birth without mating.

To protect themselves youngsters sometimes rolle in their own feces.

Misc. Facts

An old belief of the Chinese was that the tail of a dragon, when ground into powder, was a powerful medicine. Some thought that it could even stop a person from growing old!

A Komodo Dragon can go through five sets of teeth in it's life.

Bibliography

http://nationalzoo.si.edu http://animals.nationalgeographic.com http://www.komododragonfacts.com/facts

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