Do you believe in the existence of dragons? If not, then by all means read our article. It might shake your confidence. After all, in fact, on the distant island of Komodo there lives such a large lizard that the locals confidently call it a dragon. And not only locals. The name Komodo Dragon is scientific and is used by professionals as well.
You will learn about how the largest lizards in the world live from our material.
Historical background
These giants were first discovered in 1912 on the island of Komodo. It is easy to guess that the name of the big lizard is connected with this.
These creatures have been the object of scientific research ever since. Scientists have established that the history of the evolution of this species is associated with Australia. From the historical ancestor, the genus Varanus separated about 40 million years ago and emigrated to this remote mainland. For a while, the giants lived in Australia and nearby islands. Later, for various reasons, monitor lizards were pushed back to the islands of Indonesia, where they settled. Scientists suggest that this is due to changes in terrain and seismic activity. Komodo Island itself, by the way, toois of volcanic origin. It is worth noting that the relocation of bloodthirsty giants to the islands saved many representatives of the Australian fauna from complete extermination. A large lizard has mastered new territories and dominates there to this day.
Appearance
How big can a Komodo dragon be? It's hard to imagine, but the Komodo dragon lizard is comparable in size to a young crocodile.
Scientists measured a sample of 12 individuals and described their external features. The investigated monitor lizards reached a length of 2.25-2.6 meters, and their weight was 25-59 kilograms. But these figures are average. Several much more outstanding cases have been recorded and described. The length of some lizards reaches 3 or even more meters, and the largest known specimen weighed more than one and a half centners.
The skin of the monitor lizard is dark green, rough, often covered with small yellowish spots and leathery spikes. These animals have a powerful physique, strong short legs with sharp claws. Powerful jaws with large teeth at first sight betray a fierce predator in this beast. A long and movable forked tongue completes the picture.
Features of the species
Despite its impressive size and seeming sluggishness, the dragon lizard is an excellent swimmer, runner and rock climber. Komodo monitor lizards are excellent tree climbers, they can even swim to a neighboring island, and not a single potential victim can escape from them at short distances.
The Komodo dragon is not only an excellent tactician, but also a brilliant strategist. If this predator has its eye on a prey that is too large, it can use more than just brute force. A monitor lizard knows how to wait, he is able to drag around a dying animal for weeks, anticipating the coming feast.
How dragons live today
The big lizard does not like the company of relatives and shuns them. Monitor lizards lead a solitary lifestyle, and contact their own kind only during the mating season. These contacts are by no means limited to love pleasures. Males are engaged in bloody battles among themselves, contesting the rights to females and territories.
These predators are diurnal, sleep at night and hunt at dawn. Like other reptiles, Komodo monitor lizards are cold-blooded, they do not tolerate temperature extremes well. And from the scorching sun, they are forced to hide in the shade.
Birth of the Dragon
Many interesting facts about lizards are related to the continuation of the species. After a bloody fight, which often ends with the death of one of the fighters, the winner gets the right to start a family. These animals do not form permanent families, in a year the ritual will be repeated.
The chosen one of the winner lays about two dozen eggs. She guards the clutch for about eight months, so that small predators or even close relatives do not steal the eggs. But from birth, dragon children are deprived of maternal caress. Having hatched, they find themselves face to face with the harsh island reality and at first survive only thanks to the ability tohide.
Differences between monitor lizards of different sex and age
Sexual demorphism in these creatures is not too pronounced. Large sizes are inherent in dragons of both sexes, however, males are somewhat larger and more massive than females.
A cub is born inconspicuous, which helps him hide from predators and hungry relatives. Growing up, a large lizard acquires a rich color. The young have bright spots on bright green skin that fades with age.
Hunting
If you are attracted to interesting facts about lizards, this question requires the most careful study. On the islands, giant lizards have no natural enemies, they can safely be called the top link in the food chain.
Monitor lizards prey on almost all of their neighbors. They even attack buffaloes. Archaeologists who have established that dwarf elephants inhabited the islands several millennia ago do not exclude that it was some species of large lizards related to the modern Komodo monitor lizard that caused their complete extermination.
Giant lizards and carrion do not shun. They are happy to feast on underwater inhabitants thrown out by the sea or the corpses of land animals. Cannibalism is also common.
Modern giants lead a solitary life, but on the hunt they can spontaneously stray into bloodthirsty flocks. And where their powerful muscles, teeth and claws are powerless, they use more sophisticated weapons that deserve special attention.
Poison
About the behavior of these amazing creaturesknown for a long time. Scientists have found that monitor lizards sometimes bite the victim, and then roam after it without showing aggression. The unfortunate animal has no chance, it weakens and slowly dies. It was once believed that the cause of the rapid spread of a deadly infection is the pathogenic microflora that settles in the oral cavity of monitor lizards while eating carrion.
But recent studies have proven that this creature has poisonous glands. The poison of the monitor lizard is not as strong as that of some snakes; it cannot instantly kill. The victim dies gradually.
By the way, one more record worth mentioning here. The Komodo dragon is not only the largest lizard in the world, but also the largest poisonous creature.
Danger for people
The status of a rare species and the mention in the Red Book raises the question of who is more dangerous to whom. Komodo dragons are rare and are not allowed to be hunted.
But you can't count on reciprocal pacifism. There are known cases of monitor lizard attacks on humans. If you do not go to the hospital in time, where the patient will receive complex treatment, neutralize the poison and administer an antibiotic, there is a high risk of death. Especially dangerous monitor lizards for children. They often encroach on human corpses, as a result of which it is customary on the island to protect the graves with concrete slabs.
In general, man and the largest lizard in the world coexist quite peacefully. On the islands of Komodo, Rincha, Gili Motang and Flores, unique parks are organized, which attract many tourists every year toadmire unusual and amazing reptiles.
