It goes without saying that dragons only live in fairy tales and in our imagination. However, every rule is confirmed by its exceptions. In Indonesia, on the island of Komodo, lives the largest lizard in the world - a huge monitor lizard! In Europe, they were nicknamed "Komodo dragons", and the locals used to say "buajal harata".
Monster from Indonesia
The Komodo dragon is the largest lizard on our planet. Its weight reaches 1.5 centners, and the length noticeably exceeds 3 meters! "Dragons" are carnivorous lizards. These are quite ferocious and aggressive creatures that can easily catch up and tear apart a very large animal, such as a wild boar. The local population says that these monitor lizards also attacked humans. However, there is no scientific evidence for this evidence. One can only guess, because it will be very easy for an Indonesian monster to cope with an adult.
Hunting
How does this large lizard hunt? These creatures attack in two ways: from ambush or sneak very close to their prey. Then"dragon" makes a lightning throw, grabbing his victim by the head. After that, he shakes her violently, breaking her spine.
But that's not all! If the monitor lizard failed to kill the prey the first time, then he kills it with a blow of his long and muscular tail. This blow is so strong that it will knock down even an adult deer, while breaking its bones. Despite this, a large lizard rarely attacks he althy and large animals. Basically, they are weakened or sick creatures. By the way, Komodo "dragons" do not disdain carrion.
The monitor lizard's wonderful sense of smell helps to find its victims. Further in the course are strength, sharp teeth and deadly saliva. No, it is not poisonous in monitor lizards. The point here is different: it contains a large number of certain pathogenic microbes that enter the blood of the victim during the bite.
Feast for the whole world
It is interesting that the prey of one monitor lizard becomes the property of several of its relatives. They run to the dining "dragon" and share a meal with him. Komodo monsters of different age groups approach the "buffet": from tiny youngsters to honorable elders. Zoologists have noted that these creatures never fight over food. Usually everyone gets a decent piece. By the way, in addition to deer and wild boars, the diet of Komodo dragons also includes horses and dogs.
Neighbours
Besides Komodo itself, a large lizard lives on the islands of Papar and Rinja, andalso in the western part of Flores.
"Dragon" and man
Until recently, these ferocious creatures were on the verge of extinction. The fact is that a person shot this monitor lizard because of its strong skin, necessary for the creation of certain leather products. However, laws and measures have now been adopted that prohibit the hunting of this lizard. Thanks to this, the number of Komodo dragons is gradually increasing.
Hello from dinosaurs
Scientists claim that a large lizard of our days has been preserved on Earth since the era of dinosaurs! That is why Komodo monitor lizards are rightfully called living fossils, the "shadow of the dinosaurs".
