With a length of up to 3 meters and a weight of around 100 kg, the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is the largest lizard in the world! Komodo dragons are also among the few lizards in the world with venom glands. Hatchlings live well-protected in trees. The adult giant lizards are ground-dwelling ambush hunters and scavengers. Thanks to their venom glands, they can also take down large prey such as maned deer. With their forked tongues, dark eyes, and massive bodies, Komodo dragons are a fascinating sight. But the last giant monitor lizards are threatened. There are only a few thousand of them left on five Indonesian islands. The most famous is Komodo, the Dragon Island.
Komodo Dragon Profile • The largest lizard in the world • Varanus Komodoenis
In the article The home of the Komodo dragons Here you'll find an exciting report about observing monitor lizards in their natural habitat. Here, Magazine.Travel presents you with fascinating facts, great photos, and a profile of these impressive monitor lizards.
The Komodo dragon is a large predator with relatively little bite force. The real weapons of the giant lizards are their sharp teeth, poisonous saliva and patience. An adult Komodo dragon can even kill a water buffalo weighing around 300 kg. In addition, the Komodo dragons can smell prey or carrion from a distance of several kilometers.
Varanus komodoenis Komo dragon ambulance hunter with perfect camouflage
Young Komodo dragon with open mouthGiant lizard eats the remains of a maned deer
How does a Komodo dragon kill?
The riddle of the dragon's saliva
Dangerous Bacteria?
An outdated theory says that dangerous bacteria in the Komodo dragon's saliva are fatal to the prey. The wound infection causes sepsis and this leads to death. However, studies have shown that the bacteria in the saliva of the giant lizards are also found in other reptiles and carnivorous mammals. They are probably ingested when eating carrion and are not used to kill. Of course, the infections also weaken the prey.
Toxins in saliva?
It is now known that toxins in the saliva of the Komodo dragons are the real cause of why the prey dies promptly after a bite wound. The anatomy of the teeth of Varanus komodoensis gives no indication of the use of poison, which is why its poisonous apparatus has obviously been overlooked for a long time. In the meantime it has been proven that the Komodo dragon has poison glands in the lower jaw and the ducts of these glands open between the teeth. This is how the poison gets into the saliva of the monitor lizards.
Komodo dragon with saliva thread in the sunshine
Why is the Komodo dragon so dangerous?
The solution to the puzzle: Adult Komodo dragons are ambush predators and kill very effectively. They wait until prey approaches unnoticed, then lunge forward and attack. Their sharp teeth cause deep wounds as they attempt to pull down their prey, grabbing its limbs or ripping open its belly. The heavy blood loss weakens the prey. If it manages to escape, it is pursued, and the venom takes its toll on the victim.
What happens if you get bitten by a Komodo dragon?
The toxins cause a strong decrease in blood pressure. This leads to shock and defenselessness. The bacterial infection of the wounds also weakens the animal if it lives long enough for this. Overall, an evolutionarily perfectly developed hunting method. Effective and with a low energy expenditure for the Komodo dragon.
Are Komodo dragons dangerous to humans?
Yes, giant monitor lizards can be dangerous. However, they don't generally consider humans as prey. Unfortunately, there have been isolated cases of unfortunate deaths of local children. Tourists trying to take close-up photos and selfies have also been attacked by Komodo dragons.
Can Komodo dragons eat humans?
The animals must never be harassed, and a safe distance is mandatory. However, most of the animals in Komodo National Park appear calm and relaxed. They are by no means bloodthirsty man-eaters. Nevertheless, these fascinating and seemingly slow monitor lizards remain predators. Some are very alert, and in these cases, extra caution is advised when observing them, as they can become very fast when they want to.
Sturdy build / tail about as long as head and torso / forked tongue / strong claws / coloring gray-brown youthful drawing dark with yellow spots and bands
Height Weight
Largest lizard in the world! Up to 3 meters / Up to 80 kg (in zoos up to 150 kg) / Male > Female
Way of life
rural, diurnal, loner; Young animals living on trees, adults on the ground
Living Space
savanna-like grasslands, wooded areas
Nutrition
Young animal: insects, birds, small lizards e.g. geckos (active hunting) Adult: carnivor = carnivores (ambush) & scavengers & cannibalism poisonous saliva helps take down large prey such as wild boar and maned deer
Reproduction
Sexual maturity: females at around 7 years / males at around 17kg. Mating: in the dry season (June, July) / typical comet fights among males Oviposition: usually once a year, rarely every 2 years, 25-30 eggs per clutch Hatching: after 7-8 months, sex not dependent on incubation temperature Parthenogenesis possible = unfertilized eggs with male offspring, genetically very similar to the mother Generation length: 15 years
Life expectancy
Females up to 30 years, males over 60 years, exact life expectancy unknown
distribution area
5 islands in Indonesia: Flores, Gili Dasami, Gili Motang, Komodo, Rinca; about 70% of the population lives on Komodo & Rinca
Population size
approx. 3000 to 4000 animals (as of 2021, source: elaphe 01/21 of the DGHT) approx. 1400 adults or 3400 adults + juveniles without arboreal hatchlings (as of 2019, source: IUCN Red List) 2919 on Komodo + 2875 on Rinca + 79 on Gili Dasami + 55 on Gili Motang (as of 2016, source: Loh Liang information center on Komodo)
Protection status
Red List: Vulnerable, population stable (Assessment August 2019) Washington species protection: Annex I / VO (EU) 2019/2117: Annex A / BNatSCHG: strictly protected
Monitor lizard at the waterholeDrinking Komodo DragonKomodo National Park Indonesia
Visitor and travel information Komodo
Where can you observe Komodo dragons?
Wild Komodo dragons are found only in Indonesia on Komodo, Rinca, Gili Dasami, and Gili Motang islands within Komodo National Park, as well as in certain areas of the west and north coast of Flores Island, which is not part of the national park. The photographs for this article were taken in October 2016 and January 2023 on the islands of Komodo and Rinca.
Fabulous
Dragon myth
Fairy tales and legends featuring fantastic dragon creatures have fascinated humanity since time immemorial. The Komodo dragon may not breathe fire, but it still makes the hearts of dragon fans beat faster. The world's largest lizard evolved in Australia 4 million years ago and reached Indonesia about 1 million years ago. In Australia, the giants have long since become extinct, but in Indonesia they still live today and are called "the last dinosaurs" or "the dragons of Komodo."
Komodo dragon tongueKomodo Dragon EyeKomodo dragon clawsVaranus Komodoeni's profile photoMonitor lizard female in nest hollowJuvenile coloration of monitor lizardsDrinking giant lizardAmbush hunter with perfect camouflageSee Komodo dragons liveYoung Komodo dragonAdult Varanus komodoenisWwaran at the waterholeFlapping Komodo DragonGiant lizard eats maned deerKomodo dragon with saliva thread
Copyrights and Copyright
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Sources
Source reference text research
Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (n.d.): Scientific information system for international species protection. Taxon information Varanus komodoensis. [online] Retrieved on 02.06.2021, from URL: https://www.wisia.de/prod/FsetWisia1.de.html
Fischer, Oliver & Zahner, Marion (2021): Varanus komodoensis: Status and Conservation of the Largest Lizard in the Wild and in Zoos. [Print Magazine]. elaphe 01/2021, pp. 12 to 27
Gehring, Philip-Sebastian (2018): According to Rinca because of the monitor lizards. [Print magazine] Large monitors. Terraria / elaphe 06/2018 pages 23 to 29
Information in the visitor center on site, information from the ranger, as well as personal experiences during the visit to the Komodo National Park in October 2016.
Kocourek Ivan, translation from the Czech by Kocourek Ivan & Frühauf Dana (2018): To Komodo - to the largest lizards in the world. [Print magazine] Large monitors. Terraria / elaphe 06/2018 page 18 to page 22
Pfau, Beate (January 2021): elaphe Abstracts. Main topic: Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis), status and conservation of the largest lizards on Earth.
Jessop, T., Ariefiandy, A., Azmi, M., Ciofi, C., Imansyah, J. & Purwandana (2021), Varanus komodoensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021. [online] Retrieved on June 21.06.2022, XNUMX, from URL: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22884/123633058
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Dragon myth
Dragon myth
