Misplaced Pages

#808191

100-516: The Komodo dragon ( Varanus komodoensis ), also known as the Komodo monitor , is a large reptile of the monitor lizard family Varanidae that is endemic to the Indonesian islands of Komodo , Rinca , Flores , and Gili Motang . It is the largest extant species of lizard , with the males growing to a maximum length of 3 m (9.8 ft) and weighing up to 150 kg (330 lb). As

200-422: A Komodo dragon reputedly suffer from said sepsis and will later be eaten by the same or other lizards. 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. The undigested vegetable contents of

300-458: A W chromosome become WW and fail to develop, meaning that only males are produced by parthenogenesis in this species. It has been hypothesised that this reproductive adaptation allows a single female to enter an isolated ecological niche (such as an island) and by parthenogenesis produce male offspring, thereby establishing a sexually reproducing population (via reproduction with her offspring that can result in both male and female young). Despite

400-644: A couple of months, dying in October and November 1926. The first Komodo dragons were displayed at London Zoo in 1927. A Komodo dragon was exhibited in 1934 in the United States at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. , but it lived for only two years. More attempts to exhibit Komodo dragons were made, but the lifespan of the animals in captivity at the time proved very short, averaging five years in

500-518: A few days, Hensbroek managed to kill one of the lizards to investigate. Realising the significance of the dragons on Komodo Island as an endangered species, the Dutch government issued a regulation on the protection of the lizards on Komodo Island in 1915. In the decades since the Komodo became known to non-locals, various scientific expeditions from a range of countries have carried out field research on

600-455: A high aerobic scope that is afforded, in part, by their heart anatomy. Whereas most reptiles are considered to have three-chambered hearts, the hearts of monitor lizards – as with those of boas and pythons – have a well developed ventricular septum that completely separates the pulmonary and systemic sides of the circulatory system during systole . This allows monitor lizards to create mammalian-equivalent pressure differentials between

700-2150: A large number of slightly related local names for them. They are usually known as biawak ( Malay , including Indonesian standard variety), bayawak ( Filipino ), binjawak or minjawak or nyambik ( Javanese ), or variations thereof. Other names include hokai ( Solomon Islands ); bwo , puo , or soa ( Maluku ); halo ( Cebu ); galuf or kaluf ( Micronesia and the Caroline Islands ); batua or butaan ( Luzon ); alu ( Bali ); hora or ghora ( Komodo group of islands); phut ( Burmese ); and guibang ( Manobo ). In South Asia , they are known as hangkok in Meitei , mwpou in Boro, ghorpad घोरपड in Marathi , uḍumbu உடும்பு in Tamil and udumbu ഉടുമ്പ് in Malayalam , bilgoh in Bhojpuri , gohi (गोहि) in Maithili , in Sinhala as තලගොයා / කබරගොයා ( talagoya [land monitor] / kabaragoya [water monitor where kabara means vitiligo] ), in Telugu as uḍumu (ఉడుము), in Kannada as uḍa (ಉಡ), in Punjabi and Magahi as गोह ( goh ), in Assamese as gui xaap , in Odia as ଗୋଧି ( godhi ), and in Bengali as গোসাপ ( goshaap ) or গুইসাপ ( guishaap ), and गोह ( goh ) in Hindi and गोधा ( godhā ) in Sanskrit . The West African Nile monitor

800-415: A limited period to allow for conservation efforts amid concerns over animal-smuggling. In July 2019, it was confirmed that the island would be closed from the beginning of 2020. In September 2019, the park attracted further controversy when tourists complained that their guides were encouraging them to take selfies with Komodo dragons. The Governor of Nusa Tenggara Timur province, Viktor Laiskodat , said that

900-636: A male dragon. After Flora's eggs' condition had been discovered, testing showed Sungai's eggs were also produced without outside fertilization. On 31 January 2008, the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas , became the first zoo in the Americas to document parthenogenesis in Komodo dragons. The zoo has two adult female Komodo dragons, one of which laid about 17 eggs on 19–20 May 2007. Only two eggs were incubated and hatched due to space issues;

1000-604: A male, an adaptation known as superfecundation . On 20 December 2006, it was reported that Flora, a captive Komodo dragon living in the Chester Zoo in England, was the second known Komodo dragon to have laid unfertilised eggs: she laid 11 eggs, and seven of them hatched, all of them male. Scientists at Liverpool University in England performed genetic tests on three eggs that collapsed after being moved to an incubator, and verified Flora had never been in physical contact with

1100-1065: 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. The eating habits of Komodo dragons follow a hierarchy, with the larger animals generally eating before the smaller ones. The largest male typically asserts his dominance and the smaller males show their submission by use of body language and rumbling hisses. Dragons of equal size may resort to "wrestling". Losers usually retreat, though they have been known to be killed and eaten by victors. The Komodo dragon's diet varies depending on stage of growth. Young Komodo dragons will eat insects, birds and bird's eggs and small reptiles, while larger Komodo dragons (typically over 20 kg (44 lb)) prefer large ungulate prey, such as Javan rusa deer, wild pigs and water buffalo . Occasionally, they attack and bite humans. Sometimes they consume human corpses, digging up bodies from shallow graves. This habit of raiding graves caused

SECTION 10

#1732783097809

1200-620: A mysterious creature. The creature was allegedly a dragon which inhabited a small island in the Lesser Sunda Islands (the main island of which is Flores). Hearing the reports, Lieutenant Steyn van Hensbroek, an official of the Dutch Colonial Administration in Flores, planned a trip to Komodo Island to continue the search. He armed himself, and accompanied by a team of soldiers, landed on the island. After

1300-529: A poor source of leather. Additionally, these osteoderms become more extensive and variable in shape as the Komodo dragon ages, ossifying more extensively as the lizard grows. These osteoderms are absent in hatchlings and juveniles, indicating that the natural armor develops as a product of age and competition between adults for protection in intraspecific combat over food and mates. Komodo dragons have ziphodont teeth, which are defined as teeth that are laterally flattened, recurved, and with serrated tooth crowns where

1400-426: A prey animal's stomach and intestines are typically avoided. Copious amounts of red saliva the Komodo dragons produce help to lubricate the food, but swallowing is still a long process (15–20 minutes to swallow a goat). A Komodo dragon may attempt to speed up the process by ramming the carcass against a tree to force it down its throat, sometimes ramming so forcefully that the tree is knocked down. A small tube under

1500-502: A result of their size, Komodo dragons are apex predators , and dominate the ecosystems in which they live. Komodo dragons hunt and ambush prey including invertebrates , birds, and mammals . Komodo dragons' group behavior in hunting is exceptional in the reptile world. 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. Mating begins between May and August, and

1600-481: A short peptide dubbed DRGN-1 and tested it against multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. Preliminary results of these tests show that DRGN-1 is effective in killing drug-resistant bacterial strains and even some fungi. It has the added observed benefit of significantly promoting wound healing in both uninfected and mixed biofilm infected wounds. In late 2005, researchers at the University of Melbourne speculated

1700-414: A short time, and are capable of recognising individual humans and discriminating between familiar and unfamiliar keepers. Komodo dragons have also been observed to engage in play with a variety of objects, including shovels, cans, plastic rings, and shoes. This behavior does not seem to be "food-motivated predatory behavior". Monitor lizard Monitor lizards are lizards in the genus Varanus ,

1800-596: A staple in the reptile pet trade. The most commonly kept monitors are the savannah monitor and Ackie dwarf monitor , due to their relatively small size, low cost, and relatively calm dispositions with regular handling. Among others, black-throated , Timor , Asian water , Nile , mangrove , emerald tree , black tree , roughneck , Dumeril's , peach-throated , crocodile , and Argus monitors have been kept in captivity. Monitor lizards are poached in some South- and Southeast Asian countries, as their organs and fat are used in some traditional medicines , although there

1900-580: A stealthy approach. When suitable prey arrives near a dragon's ambush site, it will suddenly charge at the animal at high speeds and go for the underside or the throat. Komodo dragons do not deliberately allow the prey to escape with fatal injuries but try to kill prey outright using a combination of lacerating damage and blood loss. They have been recorded as killing wild pigs within seconds, and observations of Komodo dragons tracking prey for long distances are likely misinterpreted cases of prey escaping an attack before succumbing to infection. Most prey attacked by

2000-549: A study reported no agitation in wild Komodo dragons in response to whispers, raised voices, or shouts. This was disputed when London Zoo 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. The Komodo dragon can see objects as far away as 300 m (980 ft), but because its retinas only contain cones , it is thought to have poor night vision. It can distinguish colours, but has poor visual discrimination of stationary objects. As with many other reptiles,

2100-409: A support. As it matures, its claws are used primarily as weapons, as its great size makes climbing impractical. For shelter, the Komodo dragon digs holes that can measure from 1 to 3 m (3.3 to 9.8 ft) wide with its powerful forelimbs and claws. Because of its large size and habit of sleeping in these burrows, it is able to conserve body heat throughout the night and minimise its basking period

SECTION 20

#1732783097809

2200-412: A very narrow view of oral secretions and resulted in misinterpretation of reptilian evolution." According to these scientists "reptilian oral secretions contribute to many biological roles other than to quickly dispatch prey." These researchers concluded that, "Calling all in this clade venomous implies an overall potential danger that does not exist, misleads in the assessment of medical risks, and confuses

2300-652: Is Archaeovaranus from the Eocene of China, suggesting that the genus Varanus is of Asian origin. The oldest fossils of Varanus date to the early Miocene . Many of the species within the various subgenera also form species complexes with each other: Euprepriosaurus Odatria Varanus Polydaedalus Empagusia Soterosaurus The tree monitors of the V. prasinus species complex ( V. prasinus , V. beccarii , V. boehmei , V. bogerti , V. keithhornei , V. kordensis , V. macraei , V. reisingeri , V. telenesetes ) were once in

2400-666: Is banned under the Protected Species Act. Varanus is the only living genus of the family Varanidae . Varanids last shared a common ancestor with their closest living relatives, earless "monitors" , during the Late Cretaceous . The oldest known varanids are from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia. During the Eocene , the varanid Saniwa occurred in North America. The closest known relative of Varanus

2500-593: Is derived from the Arabic word ورل waral [Standard Arabic] / ورر warar [colloquially] / ورن waran [colloquially], from a common Semitic root ouran , waran , warar or waral , meaning "lizard beast". In English, they are known as "monitors" or "monitor lizards". The earlier term "monitory lizard" became rare by about 1920. The name may have been suggested by the occasional habit of varanids to stand on their two hind legs and to appear to "monitor", or perhaps from their supposed habit of "warning people of

2600-563: Is diverse and complex, as a result of the diverse ecological niches monitor lizards occupy. For example, many species have anticoagulant venom, disrupting clotting through a combination of fibrinogenolysis and blocking platelet aggregation. Amongst them, arboreal species, such as the tree monitors and the banded monitor , have by far the strongest fibrinogenolytic venom. As a result, wounds from monitor lizard bites often bleed more than they would if they were simply lacerations. Venom may also cause hypotension . In some species such as

2700-609: Is known by several names in Yoruba , including awọ́nríwọ́n , awọ̀n , and àlégbà . In Wolof it is known as mbossé or bar , and is the traditional totem of the city of Kaolack . Due to confusion with the large New World lizards of the family Iguanidae , the lizards became known as " goannas " in Australia. Similarly, in South African English , they are referred to as leguaans , or likkewaans , from

2800-438: Is most active in the day, although it exhibits some nocturnal activity. Komodo dragons are solitary, coming together only to breed and eat. They are capable of running rapidly in brief sprints up to 20 km/h (12 mph), 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

2900-491: Is no scientific evidence as to their effectiveness. Monitor lizard meat, particularly the tongue and liver, is eaten in parts of India and Malaysia and is supposed to be an aphrodisiac . In parts of Pakistan and southern India, as well in Northeastern India, particularly Assam, the different parts of monitor lizards are traditionally used for treating rheumatic pain, skin infections and hemorrhoids , and

3000-648: Is part of the Lesser Sunda chain of islands and forms part of the Komodo National Park . It is a popular destination for diving . Administratively, it is part of the Komodo District (which also includes Rinca Island and numerous other islands off the west coast of Flores , together with part of the western portion of Flores itself), forming part of West Manggarai Regency within the province of East Nusa Tenggara . In 1991 Komodo island

3100-529: Is part of the Lesser Sundas deciduous forests ecoregion. The island is also a popular destination for diving and it has been included into the controversial New 7 Wonders of Nature list since November 11, 2011. The Komodo dragon , the world's largest living lizard, takes its name from the island. A type of monitor lizard , it inhabits Komodo Island and some of the smaller surrounding islands, as well as part of western Flores. Javan deer also inhabit

Komodo dragon - Misplaced Pages Continue

3200-612: Is prohibited. Despite this, there are occasional reports of illegal attempts to trade in live Komodo dragons. The most recent attempt was in March 2019, when Indonesian police in the East Java city of Surabaya reported that a criminal network had been caught trying to smuggle 41 young Komodo dragons out of Indonesia. The plan was said to include shipping the animals to several other countries in Southeast Asia through Singapore. It

3300-497: Is reinforced by armoured scales, which contain tiny bones called osteoderms that function as a sort of natural chain-mail . The only areas lacking osteoderms on the head of the adult Komodo dragon are around the eyes, nostrils, mouth margins, and parietal eye , a light-sensing organ on the top of the head. Where lizards typically have one or two varying patterns or shapes of osteoderms, komodos have four: rosette, platy, dendritic, and vermiform. This rugged hide makes Komodo dragon skin

3400-553: Is used for membranes in traditional drums (called kundu ), and these lizards are referred to as kundu palai or "drum lizard" in Tok Pisin , the main Papuan trade language. Monitor lizard skins are prized in making the resonant part of serjas (Bodo folk sarangis) and dotaras (native strummed string instruments of Assam, Bengal and other eastern states). The leather is also used in making a Carnatic music percussion instrument called

3500-600: The kanjira . The meat of monitor lizards is eaten by some tribes in India, Nepal, the Philippines, Australia, South Africa and West Africa as a supplemental meat source. Both meat and eggs are also eaten in Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and Thailand as a delicacy. According to IUCN Red List of threatened species, most of the monitor lizards species fall in the categories of least concern, but

3600-863: The Dutch term for the Iguanidae, leguanen . The various species cover a vast area, occurring through Africa, the Indian subcontinent , to China , the Ryukyu Islands in southern Japan , south to Southeast Asia to Thailand , Malaysia , Brunei , Indonesia , the Philippines , New Guinea , Australia , and islands of the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea . They have also been introduced outside of their natural range, for instance,

3700-642: The Dutch colonial administration. Widespread notoriety came after 1912, when Peter Ouwens , the director of the Zoological Museum of Bogor , Java , published a paper on the topic after receiving a photo and a skin from the lieutenant, as well as two other specimens from a collector. The first two live Komodo dragons to arrive in Europe were exhibited in the Reptile House at London Zoo when it opened in 1927. Joan Beauchamp Procter made some of

3800-506: The Komodo dragon and the desert monitor , venom also induces a powerful neurotoxic effect. In the latter species for instance, envenomation causes immediate paralysis in rodents (but not birds) and lesser effects of the same nature in humans. At least some species of monitors are known to be able to count; studies feeding rock monitors varying numbers of snails showed that they can distinguish numbers up to six. Nile monitors have been observed to cooperate when foraging; one animal lures

3900-778: The West African Nile monitor is now found in South Florida . Monitor lizards also occurred widely in Europe in the Neogene , with the last known remains in the region dating to the Middle Pleistocene . Most monitor lizards are almost entirely carnivorous, consuming prey as varied as insects, crustaceans , arachnids , myriapods , molluscs , fish, amphibians , reptiles, birds, and mammals. Most species feed on invertebrates as juveniles and shift to feeding on vertebrates as adults. Deer make up about 50% of

4000-527: The crocodile monitor . Many other monitor species as well as Chinese crocodile lizards and beaded lizards only have 1-2 replacement teeth behind each tooth position. 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

4100-435: The meiosis reduction-divisions in her ovaries failing. When a female Komodo dragon (with ZW sex chromosomes) reproduces in this manner, she provides her progeny with only one chromosome from each of her pairs of chromosomes, including only one of her two sex chromosomes. This single set of chromosomes is duplicated in the egg, which develops parthenogenetically. Eggs receiving a Z chromosome become ZZ (male); those receiving

Komodo dragon - Misplaced Pages Continue

4200-437: The perentie ( Varanus giganteus ), other species of monitors, and agamids may be somewhat venomous. The team believes the immediate effects of bites from these lizards were caused by mild envenomation. Bites on human digits by a lace monitor ( V. varius ), a Komodo dragon, and a spotted tree monitor ( V. timorensis ) all produced similar effects: rapid swelling, localised disruption of blood clotting, and shooting pain up to

4300-553: The Auffenberg expedition proved enormously influential in raising Komodo dragons in captivity. Research after that of the Auffenberg family has shed more light on the nature of the Komodo dragon, with biologists such as Claudio Ciofi continuing to study the creatures. The Komodo dragon is also sometimes known as the Komodo monitor or the Komodo Island monitor in scientific literature, although these names are uncommon. To

4400-460: The Komodo dragon primarily relies on its tongue to detect, taste , and smell stimuli , with the vomeronasal sense using the Jacobson's organ , rather than using the nostrils. With the help of a favorable wind and its habit of swinging its head from side to side as it walks, a Komodo dragon may be able to detect carrion from 4–9.5 km (2.5–5.9 mi) away. It only has a few taste buds in

4500-452: The Komodo dragon. In the wild, adult Komodo dragons usually weigh around 70 kg (150 lb), although captive specimens often weigh more. 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). The largest verified specimen in captivity

4600-972: The National Zoological Park. Studies were done by Walter Auffenberg, which were documented in his book The Behavioral Ecology of the Komodo Monitor , eventually allowing for more successful management and breeding of the dragons in captivity. Surabaya Zoo in Indonesia has been breeding Komodo dragons since 1990 and had 134 dragons in 2022, the largest collection outside its natural habitat. As of May 2009, there were 35 North American, 13 European, one Singaporean, two African, and two Australian institutions which housed captive Komodo dragons. In 2016, four Komodo dragons were transferred from Bronx zoo to Madras Crocodile Bank Trust in India. A variety of behaviors have been observed from captive specimens. Most individuals become relatively tame within

4700-780: The Wae Wuul and Wolo Tado Reserves were opened on Flores to aid Komodo dragon conservation. Komodo dragons generally avoid encounters with humans. Juveniles are very shy and will flee quickly into a hideout if a human comes closer than about 100 metres (330 ft). Older animals will also retreat from humans from a shorter distance away. If cornered, they may react aggressively by gaping their mouth, hissing, and swinging their tail. If they are disturbed further, they may attack and bite. Although there are anecdotes of unprovoked Komodo dragons attacking or preying on humans, most of these reports are either not reputable or have subsequently been interpreted as defensive bites. Only very few cases are truly

4800-419: The advantages of such an adaptation, zoos are cautioned that parthenogenesis may be detrimental to genetic diversity. Attacks on humans are rare, but Komodo dragons have been responsible for several human fatalities, both in 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. Most of

4900-427: The animal had consumed a large meal. The Komodo dragon has a tail as long as its body, as well as about 60 frequently replaced, serrated teeth that can measure up to 2.5 cm (1 in) in length. Its saliva is frequently blood-tinged because its teeth are almost completely covered by gingival tissue that is naturally lacerated during feeding. It also has a long, yellow, deeply forked tongue . Komodo dragon skin

5000-603: The approach of venomous animals". But all of these explanations for the name "monitor" postdate Linnaeus giving the scientific name Lacerta monitor to the Nile monitor in 1758, which may have been based on a mistaken idea by Linnaeus that the German word Waran (borrowed from Arabic) was connected to warnen (to warn), leading him to incorrectly Latinize it as monitor ('warner', 'adviser'). Austronesian languages spoken across Southeast Asia , where varanids are common, have

5100-415: The back of its throat. Its scales, some of which are reinforced with bone, have sensory plaques connected to nerves to facilitate its sense of touch. The scales around the ears, lips, chin, and soles of the feet may have three or more sensory plaques. The Komodo dragon prefers hot and dry places and typically lives in dry, open grassland, savanna, and tropical forest at low elevations. As an ectotherm , it

SECTION 50

#1732783097809

5200-433: The bigger islands (Komodo and Rinca), but decreased on smaller islands, such as Nusa Kode and Gili Motang, likely due to diminishing prey availability. On Padar , a former population of Komodo dragons has recently become extirpated , of which the last individuals were seen in 1975. It is widely assumed that the Komodo dragon died out on Padar following a major decline of populations of large ungulate prey, for which poaching

5300-597: The biological assessment of squamate biochemical systems." Evolutionary biologist Schwenk says that even if the lizards have venom-like proteins in their mouths they may be using them for a different function, and he doubts venom is necessary to explain the effect of a Komodo dragon bite, arguing that shock and blood loss are the primary factors. Mating occurs between May and August, with the eggs laid in September. During this period, males fight over females and territory by grappling with one another upon their hind legs, with

5400-433: The case of the Komodo dragon , though the extinct megalania ( Varanus priscus ) may have reached lengths of more than 7 m (23 ft). Most monitor species are terrestrial , but many are also arboreal or semiaquatic. While most monitor lizards are carnivorous , eating smaller reptiles, fish , birds , insects , small mammals, and eggs, a few species also eat fruit and vegetation . The generic name Varanus

5500-411: The diet of adult Komodo dragons, the largest monitor species. In contrast, three arboreal species from the Philippines, Varanus bitatawa , mabitang , and olivaceus , are primarily fruit eaters . Monitor lizards are considered unique among animals in that its members are relatively morphologically conservative, yet show a very large size range. However, finer morphological features such as

5600-494: The dragons on Komodo Island. Komodo had a population of about 1,800 at the 2020 census, spread out over the island and in the main Komodo village . The native population, the Komodo people , has been extinct since the 1980s. The island's present-day residents are descendants of former convicts who were exiled to Komodo and who have mixed with Bugis from Sulawesi . The population is primarily adherents of Islam but there are also Christian and Hindu congregations. Komodo

5700-487: The earliest observations of these animals in captivity and she demonstrated their behaviour at a scientific meeting of the Zoological Society of London in 1928. The Komodo dragon was the driving factor for an expedition to Komodo Island by W. Douglas Burden in 1926. After returning with 12 preserved specimens and two live ones, this expedition provided the inspiration for the 1933 movie King Kong . It

5800-657: The east. The island's surface area covers 291 square kilometres. Komodo Island is home to the Komodo Dragon, the largest lizard on earth. The earliest stories (among Westerners) of a dragon-like animal existing in the region circulated widely and attracted considerable attention. But no Westerner visited the island to check the story until official interest was sparked in the early 1910s by stories from Dutch sailors based in Flores in East Nusa Tenggara about

5900-683: The eggs are laid in September; as many as 20 eggs are deposited at a time in an abandoned megapode nest or in a self-dug nesting hole. The eggs are incubated for seven to eight months, hatching in April, when insects are most plentiful. Young Komodo dragons are vulnerable and dwell in trees to avoid predators, such as cannibalistic adults, which young Komodo dragons also try to repel by rolling in feces. They take 8 to 9 years to mature and are estimated to live up to 30 years. Komodo dragons were first recorded by Western scientists in 1910. Their large size and fearsome reputation make them popular zoo exhibits. In

6000-459: The eggs. Nests typically house one female, however a study found evidence of two females occasionally occupying the same den. Clutches contain an average of 20 eggs, which have an incubation period of 7–8 months. Hatching is an exhausting effort for the neonates, which break out of their eggshells with an egg tooth that falls off before long. After cutting themselves out, the hatchlings may lie in their eggshells for hours before starting to dig out of

6100-650: The elbow, with some symptoms lasting for several hours. In 2009, the same researchers published further evidence demonstrating Komodo dragons possess a venomous bite. MRI scans of a preserved skull showed the presence of two glands in the lower jaw. The researchers extracted one of these glands from the head of a terminally ill dragon in the Singapore Zoological Gardens , and found it secreted several different toxic proteins . The known functions of these proteins include inhibition of blood clotting, lowering of blood pressure, muscle paralysis, and

SECTION 60

#1732783097809

6200-469: The female crocodile away from her nest, while the other opens the nest to feed on the eggs. The decoy then returns to also feed on the eggs. Komodo dragons at the National Zoo in Washington, DC , recognize their keepers and seem to have distinct personalities. Blue and green tree monitors in British zoos have been observed shredding leaves, apparently as a form of play. Monitor lizards have become

6300-558: The female, hard scratches to the back, and licking. Copulation occurs when the male inserts one of his hemipenes into the female's cloaca . Komodo dragons may be monogamous and form "pair bonds", a rare behavior for lizards. Female Komodos lay their eggs from August to September and may use several types of locality; in one study, 60% laid their eggs in the nests of orange-footed scrubfowl (a moundbuilder or megapode ), 20% on ground level and 20% in hilly areas. The females make many camouflage nests/holes to prevent other dragons from eating

6400-534: The first hatched on 31 January 2008, while the second hatched on 1 February. Both hatchlings were males. Komodo dragons have the ZW chromosomal sex-determination system , as opposed to the mammalian XY system . Male progeny prove Flora's unfertilized eggs were haploid (n) and doubled their chromosomes later to become diploid (2n) (by being fertilized by a polar body , or by chromosome duplication without cell division ), rather than by her laying diploid eggs by one of

6500-409: The highest standard metabolic rates of all extant reptiles. Like snakes, monitor lizards have highly forked tongues that act as part of the "smell" sense, where the tips of the tongue carry molecules from the environment to sensory organs in the skull. The forked apparatus allows for these lizards to sense boundaries in the molecules they collect, almost smelling in "stereo". Monitor lizards have

6600-420: The induction of hypothermia, leading to shock and loss of consciousness in envenomated prey. As a result of the discovery, the previous theory that bacteria were responsible for the deaths of Komodo victims was disputed. Other scientists have stated that this allegation of venom glands "has had the effect of underestimating the variety of complex roles played by oral secretions in the biology of reptiles, produced

6700-412: The island, though they are not native. Other animals include water buffalo , banded pigs , civets, cockatoos and macaques. Komodo contains a beach with " pink " sand , one of only seven in the world. The sand appears pink because it is a mixture of white sand and red sand, formed from pieces of Foraminifera . In April 2019, Indonesian authorities announced a plan to close Komodo Island to tourism for

6800-550: The large size of adults, as medium-sized prey on the islands is rare. When the young approach a kill, they roll around in faecal matter and rest in the intestines of eviscerated animals to deter these hungry adults. Komodo dragons take approximately 8 to 9 years to mature, and may live for up to 30 years. A Komodo dragon at London Zoo named Sungai laid a clutch of eggs in late 2005 after being separated from male company for more than two years. Scientists initially assumed she had been able to store sperm from her earlier encounter with

6900-474: The late Miocene , the ancestors of Komodo dragons had hybridized with the common ancestor of Australian sand monitors (including V. spenceri , V. gouldii , V. rosenbergi and V. panoptes ). Fossils from across Queensland demonstrate that the Komodo dragon was once present in Australia, with fossils spanning from the Early Pliocene (~3.8 million years ago) to the Middle Pleistocene , with

7000-566: The leaves to clean their mouth ... Unlike people have been led to believe, they do not have chunks of rotting flesh from their meals on their teeth, cultivating bacteria." They do have a slashing bite, which normally includes a dose of their neurotoxin venom and anticoagulant saliva. Komodo dragons do not wait for prey to die and track it at a distance, as vipers do; observations of them hunting deer, boar and in some cases buffalo reveal that they kill prey in less than half an hour. The observation of prey dying of sepsis would then be explained by

7100-476: The loser eventually being pinned to the ground. These males may vomit or defecate when preparing for the fight. The winner of the fight will then flick his long tongue at the female to gain information about her receptivity. Females are antagonistic and resist with their claws and teeth during the early phases of courtship. Therefore, the male must fully restrain the female during coitus to avoid being hurt. Other courtship displays include males rubbing their chins on

7200-421: The low-lying habitats and valleys that the Komodo dragon depends on, as Komodo dragons do not range into the higher-altitude regions of the islands they inhabit. Based on projections, climate change will lead to a decline in suitable habitat of 8.4%, 30.2%, or 71% by 2050 depending on the climate change scenario . Without effective conservation actions, populations on Flores are extirpated in all scenarios, while in

7300-589: The more extreme scenarios, only the populations on Komodo and Rinca persist in highly reduced numbers. Rapid climate change mitigation is crucial for conserving the species in the wild. Other scientists have disputed the conclusions about the effects of climate change on Komodo dragon populations. Under Appendix I of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), commercial international trade of Komodo dragon skins or specimens

7400-479: The morning after. The Komodo dragon stays in the shade during the hottest part of the day and hunts in the afternoon. These special resting places, usually located on ridges with cool sea breezes, are marked with droppings and are cleared of vegetation. They serve as strategic locations from which to ambush deer. Komodo dragons are apex predators . They are carnivores; although they have been considered as eating mostly carrion, they will frequently ambush live prey with

7500-520: The natives of Komodo Island , it is referred to as ora , buaya darat ('land crocodile'), or biawak raksasa ('giant monitor'). Genetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA shows the Komodo dragon to be the closest relative ( sister taxon ) of the Australian lace monitor ( V. varius ), with their common ancestor diverging from a lineage that gave rise to the crocodile monitor ( Varanus salvadorii ) of New Guinea . A 2021 study showed that during

7600-484: The natural instinct of water buffalos , who are not native to the islands where the Komodo dragon lives, to run into water after escaping an attack. The warm, faeces-filled water would then cause the infections. The study used samples from 16 captive dragons (10 adults and six neonates) from three US zoos. Researchers have isolated a powerful antibacterial peptide from the blood plasma of Komodo dragons, VK25. Based on their analysis of this peptide, they have synthesized

7700-431: The nest. They are born quite defenseless and are vulnerable to predation. Sixteen youngsters from a single nest were on average 46.5 cm long and weighed 105.1 grams. Young Komodo dragons spend much of their first few years in trees, where they are relatively safe from predators, including cannibalistic adults, as juvenile dragons make up 10% of their diets. The habit of cannibalism may be advantageous in sustaining

7800-533: The occurrence of World War II, not resuming until the 1950s and 1960s, when studies examined the Komodo dragon's feeding behavior, reproduction, and body temperature. At around this time, an expedition was planned in which a long-term study of the Komodo dragon would be undertaken. This task was given to the Auffenberg family, who stayed on Komodo Island for 11 months in 1969. During their stay, Walter Auffenberg and his assistant Putra Sastrawan captured and tagged more than 50 Komodo dragons. Research from

7900-464: The oil is used as an aphrodisiac lubricant ( sande ka tel ). Consuming raw blood and flesh of monitor lizards has been reported to cause eosinophilic meningoencephalitis , as some monitors are hosts for the parasite Angiostrongylus cantonensis . "Large-scale exploitation" of monitor lizards is undertaken for their skins, which are described as being "of considerable utility" in the leather industry. In Papua New Guinea , monitor lizard leather

8000-444: The only extant genus in the family Varanidae . They are native to Africa, Asia, and Oceania , and one species is also found in the Americas as an invasive species . About 80 species are recognized. Monitor lizards have long necks, powerful tails and claws, and well-developed limbs. The adult length of extant species ranges from 20 cm (7.9 in) in some species such as Varanus sparnus , to over 3 m (10 ft) in

8100-526: The population is decreasing globally. All but five species of monitor lizards are classified by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora under Appendix II, which is loosely defined as species that are not necessarily threatened with extinction but may become so unless trade in such species is subject to strict regulation to avoid use incompatible with

8200-603: The pulmonary and systemic circuits, which in turn ensure that oxygenated blood is quickly distributed to the body without also flooding the lungs with high-pressure blood. Monitor lizards are oviparous , laying from seven to 38 eggs , which they often cover with soil or protect in a hollow tree stump. Some species, including the Komodo dragon, are capable of parthenogenesis . Anatomical and molecular studies indicate that all varanids (and possibly all lizards) are venomous . Unlike snakes, monitor lizard venom glands are situated in their lower jaw. The venom of monitor lizards

8300-421: The result of unprovoked attacks by atypical individuals who lost their fear of humans. Volcanic activity, earthquakes, loss of habitat, fire, tourism, loss of prey due to poaching , and illegal poaching of the dragons themselves have all contributed to the vulnerable status of the Komodo dragon. A major future threat to the species is climate change via both aridification and sea level rise , which can affect

8400-412: The richest marine biodiversity on Earth. It is also a WWF Global 200 Marine Eco-region , a WWF / IUCN Centre of Plant Diversity , one of the world’s Endemic Bird Areas and an ASEAN Heritage Park. Komodo is part of the Lesser Sunda chain of islands and forms part of the Komodo National Park . It lies between the substantially larger neighbouring islands Sumbawa to the west and Flores to

8500-561: The serrations have a dentine core and a very thin enamel outer layer. This is the same type of dentition observed in many extinct theropod dinosaurs. The teeth of the insectivorous juveniles in contrast are barely recurved, with fewer and less well-developed serrations that lack dentine cores. A 2024 study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution found that Komodo dragons have orange, iron -enriched coatings on their tooth serrations and tips, as an adaptation for maintaining

8600-400: The shape of the skull and limbs do vary, and are strongly related to the ecology of each species. Monitor lizards maintain large territories and employ active-pursuit hunting techniques that are reminiscent of similar-sized mammals. The active nature of monitor lizards has led to numerous studies on the metabolic capacities of these lizards. The general consensus is that monitor lizards have

8700-412: The sharp cutting edges. This feature is also observed to a lesser degree in a few other Australasian to Asian monitor species, though notably absent in a few other species from that range. Teeth are quickly replaced every 40 days, while maintaining up to 5 replacement teeth for each tooth position at any given time. This high rate of replacement and large number of replacement teeth is similar to that of

8800-576: The subgenus Euprepriosaurus , but as of 2016, form their own subgenus Hapturosaurus . V. jobiensis was once considered to be a member of the V. indicus species complex, but is now considered to represent its own species complex. Genus Varanus Subgenus Empagusia : Subgenus Euprepiosaurus : Subgenus Hapturosaurus : Subgenus Odatria : Subgenus Papusaurus Subgenus Philippinosaurus : Subgenus Polydaedalus : Subgenus Psammosaurus : Subgenus Solomonsaurus : Komodo (island) Komodo

8900-620: The survival of the species in the wild. The remaining five species – the Bengal , yellow , desert , and clouded monitors and the Komodo Dragon– are classified under CITES Appendix I, which outlaws international commercial trade in the species. The yellow monitor is protected in all countries in its range except Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. In Kerala , Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , Telangana and all other parts of South India, catching or killing of monitor lizards

9000-424: The tongue that connects to the lungs allows it to breathe while swallowing. After eating up to 80% of its body weight in one meal, it drags itself to a sunny location to speed digestion, as the food could rot and poison the dragon if left undigested in its stomach for too long. Because of their slow metabolism, large dragons can survive on as few as 12 meals a year. After digestion, the Komodo dragon regurgitates

9100-571: The victims were local villagers living around the national park. The Komodo dragon is classified by the IUCN as Endangered and is listed on the IUCN Red List . The species' sensitivity to natural and human-made threats has long been recognized by conservationists, zoological societies, and the Indonesian government. Komodo National Park was founded in 1980 to protect Komodo dragon populations on islands including Komodo, Rinca, and Padar. Later,

9200-701: The villagers of Komodo to move their graves from sandy to clay ground, and pile rocks on top of them, to deter the lizards. Dwarf species of Stegodon (a proboscidean related to living elephants) are suggested to have been a primary prey item of the Komodo dragon during the Pleistocene , prior to the introduction of their modern ungulate prey, which were only introduced to the islands in the Holocene , around 10-7,000 years ago. The Komodo dragon drinks by sucking water into its mouth via buccal pumping (a process also used for respiration), lifting its head, and letting

9300-473: The water run down its throat. Although previous studies proposed that Komodo dragon saliva contains a variety of highly septic bacteria that would help to bring down prey, research in 2013 suggested that the bacteria in the mouths of Komodo dragons are ordinary and similar to those found in other carnivores. Komodo dragons have good mouth hygiene. To quote Bryan Fry: "After they are done feeding, they will spend 10 to 15 minutes lip-licking and rubbing their head in

9400-453: The wild, their range has been reduced by human encroachment and is likely to contract further from the effects of climate change ; hence, they are listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List . They are protected under Indonesian law , and Komodo National Park was founded in 1980 to aid protection efforts. Komodo dragons were first documented by Europeans in 1910, when rumors of a "land crocodile" reached Lieutenant van Steyn van Hensbroek of

9500-566: The youngest confirmed records of the species in Australia dating to at latest 330,000 years ago. In Australia, it coexisted with the even larger monitor species Varanus priscus also known as megalania, the largest terrestrial lizard ever. The oldest records of the Komodo dragon on Flores date to around 1.4 million years ago, during the Early Pleistocene . Additionally, Pleistocene fossils of Varanus found in Java and Timor may belong to

9600-466: Was 3.13 m (10 ft 3 in) long and weighed 166 kg (366 lb), including its undigested food. The largest wild specimen had a length 3.04 m (10 ft), a snout-vent length (SVL) 1.54 m (5 ft 1 in) and a mass of 81.5 kg (180 lb) excluding stomach contents. The heaviest reached a mass of 87.4 kg (193 lb). The study noted that weights greater than 100 kg (220 lb) were possible but only after

9700-468: Was also Burden who coined the common name "Komodo dragon". Three of his specimens were stuffed and are still on display in the American Museum of Natural History . The Dutch island administration, realizing the limited number of individuals in the wild, soon outlawed sport hunting and heavily limited the number of individuals taken for scientific study. Collecting expeditions ground to a halt with

9800-422: Was hoped that the animals could be sold for up to 500 million rupiah (around US$ 35,000) each. It was believed that the Komodo dragons had been smuggled out of East Nusa Tenggara province through the port at Ende in central Flores. In 2013, the total population of Komodo dragons in the wild was assessed as 3,222 individuals, declining to 3,092 in 2014 and 3,014 in 2015. Populations remained relatively stable on

9900-518: Was include on the Komodo National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve . It is considered one of the world's 25 biodiversity hotspots . It has also has been selected as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature . The waters surrounding Komodo island contain rich marine biodiversity. Komodo islands is also a part of the Coral Triangle , which contains some of

10000-538: Was most likely responsible. Komodo dragons have long been sought-after zoo attractions, where their size and reputation make them popular exhibits. They are, however, rare in zoos because they are susceptible to infection and parasitic disease if captured from the wild, and do not readily reproduce in captivity. A pair of Komodo dragons was displayed at the Bronx Zoo in New York in September 1926, but they only lasted

#808191