KOMODO DRAGON
Scientific Name: Varanus Komodoensis Common Name: Komodo Dragon SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION KINGDOM: Animalia PHYLUM:Chordata CLASS:Reptilia ORDER:Squamata FAMILY:Varanidae GENUS SPECIES: Varanus (monitor lizard) The Komodo Dragon is the largest lizard out of all the species and it is listed as to be nearly extinct. Komodos have been known to dig up freshly buried humans and eat the remains. An interesting fact is that the Komodo Dragons can sense of smell is so keen they can detect the scent of carrion 5 miles away! They have also been known to hunt in large packs and bring down large prey. Komodo Dragons are excellent swimmers and can cross great distances and strong ocean. |
BODY COVERINGThe Komodo Dragon's body is covered in scaly skin as they are a reptile. The colours on their skin are Grey, Brown and cream. It looks like they have tiny circles one after the other.
|
RELATIVE SIZE The male Komodo Dragon is approximately 2.5m to 3.18m total adult body length with the weight of 90.9 kg to 135kg. However, the female Komodo Dragon will grow into 1.8 to 1.96 metres in length and weighing 34 to 56.8 kg. Both genders of lizards have a lifespan of 15 - 7 years.
|
BEHAVIOURKomodo Dragons are solitary animals but a number of Komodo Dragons will often gather around to kill large animals. These lizard can sit for hours hidden in the vegetation and are well camouflaged by their grey-brown skin as they sit waiting for a prey animals to pass by. The Komodo Dragon then ambushes it's victim with incredible speed and force.
|
DIET
The Komodo Dragon has a diet of eating buffalo, smaller dragons, deer, pigs and even human!
WHERE ARE THEY FOUND
Komodo Dragons are found in tropical savanna forests, but ranges widely over the islands, from beach to ridge tops in islands in Indonesia.
ENCLOSURE
The Komodo Dragon lives in a gigantic indoor enclosure and this is where they sleep and rest. There are lots of leaves on the ground because in order for the Komodo Dragons to be comfortable and one of the back walls is wallpaper of the the actual view of the Komodo dragons habitat to make it surreal. Also all breeds of lizards need some sun so there is a heating light above the big gigantic rock.
FEATURES
FEATURE NO.1
The Komodo dragons mouth are an important feature because like a sharks teeth, it is serrated with approximately 60 teeth. As it has venom in the mouth, it surprise - attacks the prey and its saliva is highly poisonous due to the bacteria inside it. The bacteria is a form of poison which deliberately floods the wound and kills them.
|
FEATURE NO.2
Another feature of the Komodo Dragon is their nostrils. Like most lizards and snakes, they have a great smell which they can track a dead animal from 8 km away with their forked tongue. A Komodo Dragons's saliva is really poisonous due to bacteria in it. Luckily with the forked tongue they can find their prey or otherwise these lizards would have because of their poor eyesight and hearing.
|
FEATURE NO.3
|
FEATURE NO.4The Last feature is that Komodo Lizards are great swimmers. These lizards can cross great distances and ocean currents just to go to neighboring islands where there is available source of food.
|