A Komodo dragon has killed an eight-year-old boy in the first fatal attack on a human by one of the giant lizards in 33 years. It mauled the boy in scrubland in a national park on the eastern Indonesian island of Komodo.[1]
How Old Is A Komodo Dragon
Komodo dragons live about 30 years in the wild, but scientists are still studying this.[2]
How Long Have Komodo Dragons Existed?
Over the past three years, we’ve unearthed numerous fossils from eastern Australia dated from 300,000 years ago to approximately four million years ago that we now know to be the Komodo dragon.Sep 30, 2009[3]
Is Komodo Dragon A Dinosaur?
Many scientists and palaeontologists believe that Giant Komodo Dragons evolved directly from dinosaurs, and there are many similarities in their DNA to support this. Because of this, many experts believe that Giant Komodo Dragons are the closest living relative to dinosaurs today.[4]
How Old Is The Oldest Komodo Dragon In The World?
Loka was the world’s oldest Komodo dragon in captivity, according to zoo officials. A 30-year-old Komodo dragon named Loka died on Monday at the Calgary Zoo. ‘She will be missed by all who cared for her,’ posted the zoo on its Facebook page. Loka was believed to be the oldest of her kind in captivity.[5]
Where Did The Komodo Dragon Evolve From?
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. Comparisons between fossils and living Komodo dragons on Flores show that the lizard’s body size has remained relatively stable since then.Oct 6, 2009[6]
How Many Inches Is A Full Komodo Dragon
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).[7]
How Long Is A Full Size Komodo Dragon?
The lizard grows to 3 metres (10 feet) in total length and attains a weight of about 135 kg (about 300 pounds).[8]
How Many Inches Are Komodo Dragons?
Komodo Dragon Characteristics. Komodo dragons range is length from one to three meters and vary in weight from 20 to 100 kilograms. Adult males average 2.26 meters (7 feet 5 inches) in length and 59 kilograms (130 pounds).[9]
How Tall And Long Is A Komodo Dragon?
The average size of a male Komodo dragon is 8 to 9 feet and about 200 lbs., according to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, but they can reach a whopping 10 feet (3 meters) in length. Females grow to 6 feet (1.8 m).Oct 17, 2014[10]
How Tall Is A Komodo Dragon In Height?
Komodo Dragons’ Length
Adult male Komodo dragons reach lengths of 3 meters (10 feet)! Females are generally smaller. They reach a maximum length of “merely” 1.8 meters (6 feet). This is still well over the average height of a human man (1.71 meter or 5 feet 7.5 inches.)[11]
Women Who Love A Komodo Dragon
ImagesView all[12]
Are Komodo Dragons Friendly?
Are Komodo Dragons Friendly to Humans? While Komodo Dragons aren’t typically aggressive toward humans, it’s still best to keep your distance from them, even if attacks are rare. This would be another huge concern if you owned a Komodo Dragon.[13]
Do Komodo Dragons Go After Humans?
Though attacks are exceptionally rare, they do occasionally occur, mostly when a park guard lets his focus slip for a moment, or a villager has a particularly unlucky day. In 2007, a dragon killed an 8-year-old boy on Komodo Island, marking the first fatal attack on a human in 33 years, the Guardian reported.[14]
Are Komodo Dragons Monogamous?
However, Komodo dragons have been known to be monogamous and form long-term pair bonds which is a rare behaviour for lizards. Mating takes place from May to August and during this period males may fight for a female and territory.[15]
Are Komodo Dragons Mean To Humans?
Attacks on humans are rare, but Komodo dragons have been responsible for several human fatalities, in both the wild and in captivity. 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.[16]
What Dinosaur Is Like A Komodo Dragon
Megalania – Dinosaur Park. Megalania is not a dinosaur. It is an extinct giant goanna (or monitor lizard) that once roamed southern Australia. Megalania possibly shares a sister-taxon relationship with the modern Komodo Dragon, though its closest living relative is the Lace Monitor.[17]
Does Komodo Dragon A Dinosaur?
The Komodo Dragon, tough considered by many intellectual groups to carry the same traits, characteristics and DNA strand that would otherwise link its ancestors to the Prehistoric Period, is by default only a very large reptile and not a dinosaur.May 21, 2019[18]
Which Dinosaur Is Closest To A Dragon?
Fossil Identified as Pterosaur, ‘the Closest Thing We Have to a Living Dragon’ A fossil found in Queensland, Australia, has been identified as a pterosaur, a prehistoric flying reptile, and will help paleontologists learn more about the species.[19]
What Lizard Is Closest To A Dinosaur?
The Monitor Lizard
As far as size goes, you can’t go wrong with some species of monitor lizard. As some of the largest reptiles in the world besides crocodilians and giant pythons, they look like real-life dinosaurs despite their distant relation to birds (which are extant dinosaurs).[20]
Who Would Win A Komodo Dragon Or A T Rex?
Komodo Dragon vs T-Rex: Size
The maximum weight of a Komodo dragon is 300lbs. They only stand 2ft tall and have a length of roughly 10ft. The T-rex has a massive advantage in the area of size.Mar 7, 2022[21]
What Adaptations Can A Komodo Dragon Me And Its Environment
Komodo dragons have adapted the ability to regulate their body temperatures. If they are cold they bask in the sun, whereas if they are warm they go into the shade to cool their bodies down. Komodo dragons can hear and see, but they use their tongue as their main sense.[22]
What Is The Komodo Dragon Environment?
Habitat. Komodo dragons have thrived in the harsh climate of Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands for millions of years. They prefer the islands’ tropical forests but can be found across the islands.[23]
Which Adaptation Are Used By Komodo Dragon To Hunt Its Prey?
Komodo dragons use their claws to protect themselves in fights with other dragons or to help capture large prey. They have short legs, but those legs are powerful. Komodo dragons run up to a speed of 12 miles per hour (20 kph). Komodo dragons have a long forked tongue.[24]
What Do Komodo Dragons Need In Their Habitat?
The lizard’s habitat can be anything from a tropical dry forest to a savanna to a deciduous monsoon forest. No matter where they live, the Komodo likes extreme heat. It is usually around 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) with 70-percent humidity on the islands of Indonesia, according to the San Diego Zoo.[25]
What Behavioral Adaptations Do Komodo Dragons Have?
As believed by many people, the komodo dragon is the most aggressive animal in the world. They will go after almost any animal/human to feast upon or to defend it’s self, most of the time, it is a very solitary animal. During breeding season they are very territorial.[26]
What Animals Survive Because Of The Komodo Dragon
Komodo dragon, facts and photos – National Geographicwww.nationalgeographic.com › animals › reptiles › facts › komodo-dragon[27]
What Are Komodo Dragons Good For?
Scientists say that’s because the blood of Komodo dragons is filled with proteins called antimicrobial peptides, AMPs, an all-purpose infection defense produced by all living creatures, that one day may be used in drugs to protect humans.[28]
How Do Komodo Dragons Contribute To The Ecosystem?
As a result of their size, Komodo dragons dominate the ecosystems in which they live. They are top predators and also scavengers. These lizards eat recently dead animals preventing the spread of disease and assist with a sort of “natural recycling”.[29]
What Animal Kills Komodo Dragons?
Adults are top predators but juvenile dragons are preyed upon by adult dragons, feral dogs, wild boars, civet cats and snakes. Komodo dragons are solitary animal except during breeding although groups of dragons may gather to feed at a kill.[30]
Resources
[1]https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/jun/04/1
[2]https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/komodo-dragon
[3]https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-origin-of-the-komodo-dragon-17655352/
[4]https://www.twinkl.co.uk/teaching-wiki/komodo-dragon
[5]https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-zoo-komodo-dragon-dies-1.3696086
[6]https://www.livescience.com/9726-origin-komodo-dragon-revealed.html
[7]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_dragon
[8]https://www.britannica.com/animal/Komodo-dragon
[9]https://factsanddetails.com/indonesia/Nature_Science_Animals/sub6_8d/entry-4091.html
[10]https://www.livescience.com/27402-komodo-dragons.html
[11]https://www.earth.com/earthpedia-articles/how-big-do-komodo-dragons-get/
[12]https://www.amazon.com/Loves-Komodo-Dragons-Gift-Lizard/dp/B09R1JNMGL
[13]https://petkeen.com/can-komodo-dragons-be-kept-as-pets/
[14]https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-most-infamous-komodo-dragon-attacks-of-the-past-10-years-5831048/
[15]https://www.dive-the-world.com/creatures-komodo-dragon.php
[16]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_dragon
[17]https://www.thedinopark.com/megalania.html
[18]https://tobesmoke.medium.com/komodo-dragon-our-last-link-to-the-dinosaurs-fbd9d6662086
[19]https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/fossil-identified-as-pterosaur-the-closest-thing-we-have-to-a-living-dragon/3226183/
[20]https://pethelpful.com/exotic-pets/Pets-You-Can-Own-that-Look-Like-Dinosaurs-and-Prehistoric-Animals
[21]https://a-z-animals.com/blog/komodo-dragon-vs-t-rex-who-would-win-in-a-fight/
[22]http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2008/borgen_mega/Adaptation.htm
[23]https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/komodo-dragon
[24]http://www.arbordalepublishing.com/ForCreativeMinds/DearKomodo_FCM.pdf
[25]https://www.livescience.com/27402-komodo-dragons.html
[26]https://komododragonsadaptations.weebly.com/behavioral.html
[27]https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/komodo-dragon
[28]https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/komodo-dragon-blood-might-save-human-lives-getting-it-isnt-easy/2017/10/06/5d6506cc-7d27-11e7-83c7-5bd5460f0d7e_story.html
[29]https://animalia.bio/komodo-dragon
[30]https://denverzoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Komodo-Dragon.pdf