Komodo dragon
The Komodo dragon, also known as the Komodo monitor, is a species of lizard found in the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, and Gili Motang. A member of the monitor lizard family Varanidae, it is the largest living species of lizard, growing to a maximum length of 3 metres in rar…
What is the biggest thing that a Komodo dragon can eat?
The biggest known lizard species is a Komodo dragon that can eat pigs, water buffalo, and even humans . Komodo dragons can eat up to 80% of their body weight a day. Since these reptiles can weigh up to 200 pounds (91 kg), they need to hunt a lot of meat daily.
What are the eating habits of a Komodo dragon?
Swimming
- Most monitors are good swimmers. Diving and swimming under water is effective escape behavior.
- Limbs are folded against the side of the body, and the tail is used to propel the lizard while swimming (Shaw 2002)
- Longest known swim: between the islands of Komodo and Nusa Mbarapu, a distance of at least 450 m. (a bit over 1/4 mile)
What are 5 animals that Komodo dragon can eat?
Conservation Status
- Least Concern
- Near Threatened
- Vulnerable
- Endangered
- Critically Endangered
- Extinct in the Wild
- Extinct
- Data Deficient
- Not Evaluated
How much does a Komodo dragon eat in a day?
- Komodo Dragons are not very fast. You should try to run.
- Avoid their Teeth at all costs. They are very sharp and has poison that can badly injure a human,
- It is unlikely a Komodo Dragon attacks, but if it approaches you and corners you, your best bet is to hide. ...
- This is a last resort. if you are in a alleyway,
What do I feed my pet Komodo dragon?
Diet itemsRodents: rats, shrews.Birds: megapodes and various small species.Reptiles: geckos, skinks, and small snakes.
What do Komodo dragons eat the most?
What Does The Komodo Dragon Eat? Komodo dragons eat deer, pigs, goats, and carrion. The Komodo dragon is a consummate carnivore, and its diet consists of primarily meat and includes animals such as deer, goats, and pigs. This species prefers to hunt live prey.
How often do you feed a Komodo dragon?
Because their metabolism is fairly slow and they can pound down so much in a single sitting, Komodo dragons can survive on as little as one meal a month.
What do Komodo dragons eat and drink?
They are such fierce hunters they can eat very large prey, such as large water buffalo, deer, carrion, pigs and even humans. They will also eat smaller dragons. They can eat 80 percent of their body weight in one feeding, according to the National Geographic (opens in new tab).
Can you have a Komodo dragon as a pet?
Since Komodo Dragons are an endangered species, it's currently illegal to own one.
Do Komodo dragons eat everyday?
Even their stomachs are able to expand to an impressive size which accommodates a maximum amount of food. Because of these physical features, Komodo dragons can eat up to 80 percent of their own body weight in a single meal! That said, Komodo dragons don't have to eat every day.
What do Komodo dragons drink?
The Komodo Dragon does not seem to be able to suck water when drinking, as other lizards do, nor can it lap water with its tongue. In a manner similar to birds, it drinks by taking a mouthful of water, lifting its head, and letting the water run down its throat.
Can Komodo dragons poop?
Baby Komodo dragon also roll in poop to avoid being eaten. Sometimes, they hide in the decayed intestines of other animals to prevent hungry Komodo dragons from eating them.
Are Komodo dragons bulletproof?
Here we go... Without doubt, one of the coolest living animals on the planet is the Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis, a giant flesh-eating lizard that kills water buffalo, eats children, has venom glands, and is impervious to bullets (ok, I made that last bit up).
Do Komodo dragons eat dogs?
What Does It Eat? In the wild: Adults ear water buffalo, pigs, deer, feral dogs, venomous snakes and juvenile dragons; juvenile dragons eat small lizards, eggs, grasshoppers and beetles. At the zoo: Rats, capelin.
What are Komodo dragons fed in captivity?
In captivity, these lizards are often fed small rodents and seldom have an opportunity to use their razor-sharp teeth and powerful neck muscles.
Are Komodo dragons aggressive?
Unlike most lizard species, Komodo dragons are aggressive and may track even when unprovoked. Some Komodo dragon attacks have left villagers with deep bite wounds and some others dead. Both in captivity and the wild, the Komodo National Park has gathered 24 reported attacks from 1974 to 2012.
Are Komodo dragons bulletproof?
Here we go... Without doubt, one of the coolest living animals on the planet is the Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis, a giant flesh-eating lizard that kills water buffalo, eats children, has venom glands, and is impervious to bullets (ok, I made that last bit up).
Do Komodo dragons eat water buffalo?
As the dominant predators on the handful of islands they inhabit, Komodo dragons will eat almost anything, including carrion, deer, pigs, smaller dragons, and even large water buffalo.
Do Komodo dragons eat monkeys?
A Komodo dragon, one of the most dangerous reptiles on the planet, was captured on video in Indonesia eating an entire monkey. The largest living lizard, komodo dragons can weigh as much 366 pounds.
Do Komodo dragons eat fish?
The primary prey for adult Komodo dragons is the Sunda deer. The Komodos also eat birds, snakes, fish, crabs, snails, small mammals, pigs, water buffalo, wild horses, younger Komodos and carrion.
Why are Komodo dragons declining?
No Komodo dragons have been seen on the island of Padar since the 1970s, the result of widespread poaching of deer, the reptile's primary source of prey .
How long does it take for a Komodo monitor to kill its prey?
Most of the monitor's attempts at bringing down prey are unsuccessful. However, if it is able to bite its prey, bacteria and venom in its saliva will kill the prey within a few days. After the animal dies, which can take up to four days, the Komodo uses its powerful sense of smell to locate the body.
How big is the Komodo dragon?
These wild dragons typically weigh about 154 pounds (70 kilograms), but the largest verified specimen reached a length of 10.3 feet (3.13 meters) and weighed 366 pounds (166 kilograms). Males tend to grow larger and bulkier than females. Native Habitat.
Why do Komodos roll in fecal material?
Because large Komodos cannibalize young ones, the young often roll in fecal material, thereby assuming a scent that the large dragons are programmed to avoid . Young dragons also undergo rituals of appeasement, with the smaller lizards pacing around a feeding circle in a stately ritualized walk.
What does the Komodo dragon smell like?
The Komodo dragon's sense of smell is its primary food detector. It uses its long, yellow, forked tongue to sample the air.
How does a Komodo dragon know if a deer is approaching from the left?
These chemical analyzers "smell" prey, such as a deer, by recognizing airborne molecules. If the concentration of molecules present on the left tip of the tongue is greater than that sample from the right, the Komodo dragon knows that the deer is approaching from the left.
Why is tourism important for Komodo dragons?
The tourism provides an economic incentive for local people to support the Komodo dragon's protection. The Smithsonian's National Zoo was the first zoo outside of Indonesia to successfully hatch Komodo dragons. Practice ecotourism by being an advocate for the environment when you’re on vacation.
How fast can a Komodo dragon run?
They are capable of running rapidly in brief sprints up to 20 km/h (12 mp h), diving up to 4.5 m (15 ft), and climbing trees proficiently when young through use of their strong claws. To catch out-of-reach prey, the Komodo dragon may stand on its hind legs and use its tail as a support.
What is the longest extant lizard?
Komodo Indonesian Fauna Museum and Reptile Park. Papua monitor ( Varanus salvadorii ), a monitor lizard often asserted to be the longest extant lizard. Toxicofera, a hypothetical clade encompassing all venomous reptiles, including the Komodo dragon. Varanus priscus (formerly known as Megalania prisca ), a huge extinct varanid lizard ...
How many ear bones does a Komodo dragon have?
As with other varanids, Komodo dragons have only a single ear bone, the stapes, for transferring vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the cochlea. This arrangement means they are likely restricted to sounds in the 400 to 2,000 hertz range, compared to humans who hear between 20 and 20,000 hertz. 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. This was disputed when London Zoological Garden employee Joan Procter trained a captive specimen to come out to feed at the sound of her voice, even when she could not be seen.
What is the name of the dragon that regurgitates horns?
After digestion, the Komodo dragon regurgitates a mass of horns, hair, and teeth known as the gastric pellet, which is covered in malodorous mucus. 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.
Why was Komodo National Park created?
Komodo National Park was founded in 1980 to protect Komodo dragon populations on islands including Komodo, Rinca, and Padar. Later, the Wae Wuul and Wolo Tado Reserves were opened on Flores to aid Komodo dragon conservation. Komodo dragons generally avoid encounters with humans.
How long do Komodo dragons live?
They take 8 to 9 years to mature and are estimated to live up to 30 years.
What do Komodo dragons eat?
The diet of Komodo dragons mainly consists of Javan rusa ( Rusa timorensis ), though they also eat considerable amounts of carrion. Komodo dragons also occasionally attack humans.
How Dangerous are Komodo Dragons?
Komodo dragons can be extremely dangerous; they are the largest lizards on earth, known for being strong and powerful. Though they don’t have the strongest bite force among predators, their mouths are full sharp, venomous teeth.
Are Komodo Dragons Apex Predators?
Apex predators are animals that have no natural predators of their own–in other words, they are at the top of the food chain. So, do Komodo dragons qualify as apex predators?
What Can Kill a Komodo Dragon?
According to Reference.Com, young Komodo dragons are sometimes killed by large predators. To protect themselves, juvenile dragons spend much of their time up in trees to help them avoid drawing attention from more deadly creatures; they do this until they are large enough to fight back.
Who are the Predators of the Komodo Dragon?
Again, Komodo dragons have no natural predators when they are fully grown. Young and injured Komodo dragons may be killed by some predators, including:
Conclusion
Komodo dragons are apex predators, so there are few things in the wild that can kill them. Humans, diseases, or injuries sometimes kill them, and young or injured Komodo dragons sometimes fall prey to other predatory animals–sometimes juveniles are even eaten by adult Komodo dragons.
Morphology
Description
- The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard in the world. These wild dragons typically weigh about 154 pounds (70 kilograms), but the largest verified specimen reached a length of 10.3 feet (3.13 meters) and weighed 366 pounds (166 kilograms). Males tend to grow larger and bulkier than females.
Geographic range
- Komodo dragons are limited to a few Indonesian islands of the Lesser Sunda group, including Rintja, Padar and Flores, and of course the island of Komodo, the largest at 22 miles (35 kilometers) long. They have not been seen on the island of Padar since the 1970s.
Habitat
- They live in tropical savanna forests but range widely over the islands, from beach to ridge top. Komodo dragons live about 30 years in the wild, but scientists are still studying this.
Diet
- Komodo dragons eat almost any kind of meat, scavenging for carcasses or stalking animals that range in size from small rodents to large water buffalo. Young feed primarily on small lizards and insects, as well as snakes and birds. If they live to be 5 years old, they move onto larger prey, such as rodents, monkeys, goats, wild boars and deer (the m...
Behavior
- Although the Komodo dragon can briefly reach speeds of 10 to 13 mph (16 to 20 kph), its hunting strategy is based on stealth and power. It can spend hours in one spot along a game trail waiting for a deer or other sizable and nutritious prey to cross its path before launching an attack. Because large Komodos cannibalize young ones, the young often roll in fecal material, thereby a…
Toxicity
- This lizard's large, curved and serrated teeth are its deadliest weapon, tearing flesh with efficiency. The tooth serrations hold bits of meat from its most recent meal, and this protein-rich residue supports large numbers of bacteria. Some 50 different bacterial strains, at least seven of which are highly septic, have been found in the saliva. Researchers have also documented a ven…
Breeding
- Females lay about 30 eggs in depressions dug on hill slopes or within the pilfered nests of megapodes large, chicken-like birds that make nests of heaped earth mixed with twigs that may be as long as 3 feet (1 meter) in height and 10 feet (3 meters) across. Delays in egg laying may occur, which could help the clutch avoid the brutally hot months of the dry season. Additionally, …
Physical characteristics
- The hatchlings weigh less than 3.5 ounces (100 grams) and average 16 inches (40 centimeters) in length. Their early years are precarious, and they often fall victim to predators, including other Komodo dragons. At 5 years old, they weigh about 55 pounds (25 kilograms) and average 6.5 feet (2 meters) long. At this time, they begin to hunt larger prey. They continue to grow slowly throug…