ClassificationKingdom: Animalia.Phylum: Chordata.Class: Reptilia (Laurenti, 1768) — reptiles.Order: Squamata (Oppel, 1811) — amphibians, lizards, snakes.Family: Varanidae — monitors, monitor lizards.Genus: Varanus (Merrem, 1820)Species: Varanus komodoensis — Komodo dragon.[1]
Is Komodo Dragon A Mammal Or Reptile?
The Komodo Dragon is an enormous reptile that can grow up to three meters long and weigh 150kg. They are incredibly powerful with long, thick bodies, short, muscular legs and a mighty tail. Their tail is used for both fighting and for propping the animal up when it is standing on its hind legs.May 11, 2022[2]
What Does A Komodo Dragon Protect Itself
Just beneath their scales, Komodo dragons wear a suit of armor made of tiny bones. These bones cover the dragons from head to tail, creating a “chain mail” that protects the giant predators.Nov 13, 2019[3]
Do Komodo Dragons Protect Their Eggs?
Komodo dragon mothers will also build decoy nests to confuse predators and keep her eggs safe. Then she will incubate the grapefruit-sized eggs for around three months. This group of eggs is called a clutch.[4]
What Do Komodo Dragons Do To Survive?
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.[5]
What Is Special About Komodo Dragon?
Komodo dragons, or Komodo monitors, are the largest, heaviest lizards in the world — and one of the few with a venomous bite. These stealthy, powerful hunters rely on their sense of smell to detect food, using their long, forked tongues to sample the air.[6]
Do Komodo Dragons Eat Their Prey Whole?
Komodo dragons eat by tearing large chunks of flesh and swallowing them whole while holding the carcass down with their forelegs. 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.[7]
How Does The Komodo Dragon Defend Itself
Just beneath their scales, Komodo dragons wear a suit of armor made of tiny bones. These bones cover the dragons from head to tail, creating a “chain mail” that protects the giant predators.Nov 13, 2019[8]
How Do Komodo Dragons Stay Safe?
Males maintain and defend a territory and patrol up to 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) per day. Komodo dragons mate between May and August and females lay about 30 eggs each in September. Komodo dragon mothers will also build decoy nests to confuse predators and keep her eggs safe.[9]
What Is Special About Komodo Dragon?
Komodo dragons, or Komodo monitors, are the largest, heaviest lizards in the world — and one of the few with a venomous bite. These stealthy, powerful hunters rely on their sense of smell to detect food, using their long, forked tongues to sample the air.[10]
Do Komodo Dragons Eat Their Prey Whole?
Komodo dragons eat by tearing large chunks of flesh and swallowing them whole while holding the carcass down with their forelegs. 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]
How Many Times Can A Komodo Dragon Flick Out Its Tongue?
Komodo Dragon – National Geographic Kidskids.nationalgeographic.com › animals › reptiles › facts › komodo-dragon[12]
Why Do Komodo Dragons Flick Their Tongue?
Did you know that Komodo dragons use their tongue to smell? Every time a dragon flicks their long, forked tongue out of its mouth, scent particles land on it. When the tongue is brought back into the mouth, it rubs against a special organ called a Jacobson’s organ.[13]
Do Komodo Dragons Stick Out Their Tongue?
The komodo dragon has poor eyesight and restricted hearing ability. However, it can use its tongue to detect smells and taste. The komodo dragon sticks out its tongue and swings its head from side to side when it moves. This allows it to find prey up to 6 miles away![14]
Can Komodo Dragons Spit Fire?
First identified by the west in 1910 by Dutch sailors, they reported the lizards could spit fire and reached 7m in length. In reality the lizard can only get up to 3m and can weigh 70kg, and none have been identified as either breathing or spitting fire.[15]
Can A Komodo Dragon Swallow A Human?
Young Komodos will eat insects, eggs, geckos, and small mammals, while adults prefer to hunt large mammals. Occasionally, they attack and bite humans. Sometimes they consume human corpses, digging up bodies from shallow graves.[16]
Where To Stay To See Komodo Dragon Indonesia
Stay in Komodo National Park’s best hotels!Komodo Resort. Sebayur. … Angel Island Eco Resort. Labuan Bajo (Near Komodo National Park) … The Jayakarta Suites Komodo Flores. Hotel in Labuan Bajo. … Puri Sari Beach Hotel. … Sudamala Resort, Komodo, Labuan Bajo. … OYO 967 Cajoma Guesthouse. … Le Pirate Island. … Luwansa Beach Hotel.[17]
Where Should I Stay To See A Komodo Dragon?
Labuan Bajo
Most tourists spend 2-3 nights in the town of Flores, which is the gateway to Komodo National Park. Most day trips depart from here and it’s best to base yourself here so you can explore the islands during the day and rest up at night.May 11, 2017[18]
Where Can You See Komodo Dragons In Indonesia?
Where to See Them. As the name suggests, Komodo dragons can be seen in Komodo National Park, which lies about 250 miles east of Bali. Head to the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca and some parts of Flores to see these unusual lizards in their natural habitat.[19]
Can I See Komodo Dragons In Bali?
Yes and no. Komodo dragons originate from the Komodo National Park (hence the name) and therefore you cannot see Komodo dragons in Bali in the wild. I would highly recommend making the effort to go to the Komodo Islands as it is breathtakingly beautiful. You can read more about what you can see on the islands below.Sep 28, 2016[20]
Is Komodo Worth Visiting?
look at one of the world’s largest and most deadly lizards. But Komodo Island is about much more than just the dragons… With turquoise waters, rugged volcanic landscapes, and an overwhelming sense of raw nature, Komodo is the ideal destination for hiking, diving, and just getting away from the beat of modern life.[21]
Where Was The First Komodo Dragon Found
The Komodo dragon is believed to have differentiated from its Australian ancestors about 4 million years ago. However, fossil evidence from Queensland suggests the Komodo dragon actually evolved in Australia, before spreading to Indonesia.[22]
Where Is Komodo Dragon Mostly Found?
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]
When Was The First Komodo Dragon?
Fossils from Flores’ hot central region indicate that Komodo dragons first appeared on the island around one million years ago, and lived alongside pygmy elephants, giant tortoises and giant rats, and continued to do so for thousands of years.May 17, 2017[24]
Where Did Komodo Come From?
Scientists now find that the world’s largest living lizard species, the Komodo dragon, most likely evolved in Australia and dispersed westward to its current home in Indonesia.Oct 6, 2009[25]
How Much Is Komodo Dragon
In a report by CBS News, when smugglers offer a komodo dragon for sale the price to buy the animal is reported to be $30,000. Buyers can also purchase a Madagascar tortoises for $30,000 as well.Mar 22, 2008[26]
How Much Money Does A Komodo Dragon Cost?
That’s about to change, though, as local authorities say the entrance fee may soon skyrocket to a shocking $1,000, as part of a new membership system designed to limit who is able to visit Komodo Island.[27]
Can You Buy A Komodo Dragon?
Is It Legal to Own a Komodo Dragon? Since Komodo Dragons are an endangered species, it’s currently illegal to own one.[28]
Can Komodo Dragons Be A Pet?
However there is one issue, Komodo dragons are an endangered and protected species. So no, it is illegal to own a Komodo Dragon as a pet. It’s also illegal to remove one of these lizards from their native habitat without express government approval.[29]
Can A Komodo Dragon Hurt You?
Komodo dragons have shark-like teeth and poisonous venom that can kill a person within hours of a bite. Yet villagers who have lived for generations alongside the world’s largest lizard were not afraid — until the dragons started to attack.[30]
Resources
[1]https://ielc.libguides.com/sdzg/factsheets/komododragon/taxonomy
[2]https://a-z-animals.com/animals/komodo-dragon/
[3]https://www.jsg.utexas.edu/news/2019/11/dragon-defense/
[4]https://www.livescience.com/27402-komodo-dragons.html
[5]http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2008/borgen_mega/Adaptation.htm
[6]https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/komodo-dragon
[7]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_dragon
[8]https://www.jsg.utexas.edu/news/2019/11/dragon-defense/
[9]https://www.livescience.com/27402-komodo-dragons.html
[10]https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/komodo-dragon
[11]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_dragon
[12]https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/komodo-dragon
[13]https://m.facebook.com/LAZoo/photos/a.304439135272/10165498603550273/
[14]https://onekindplanet.org/animal/komodo-dragon/
[15]https://litfl.com/komodo-dragons-myth-vs-reality/
[16]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_dragon
[17]https://www.booking.com/region/id/taman-nasional-komodo.html
[18]https://www.orbitz.com/blog/2017/05/bucket-list-adventures-plan-trip-see-komodo-dragons/
[19]https://www.originaltravel.co.uk/travel-blog/best-places-to-see-komodo-dragons
[20]https://rooftopantics.com/how-to-see-komodo-dragons-without-an-expensive-tour/
[21]https://www.jtgtravel.com/asia/indonesia/is-komodo-island-worth-visiting/
[22]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_dragon
[23]https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/facts/komodo-dragon
[24]https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/may/17/here-be-dragons-the-million-year-journey-of-the-komodo-dragon
[25]https://www.livescience.com/9726-origin-komodo-dragon-revealed.html
[26]https://havocscope.com/komodo-dragon-for-sale/
[27]https://www.cntraveler.com/story/what-komodo-islands-new-dollar1000-visitor-fee-means-for-travelers
[28]https://petkeen.com/can-komodo-dragons-be-kept-as-pets/
[29]https://wildlifeinformer.com/can-you-have-a-komodo-dragon-as-a-pet/
[30]https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna30913500