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Contributor: Jay Gregorio. Lesson ID: 13221
Have you ever seen a lizard large enough to eat a deer? No gecko could do that! The Komodo dragon is a unique and deadly reptile facing extinction. Learn all about its history and how to help!
Look at the picture below. These may look like mythical creatures, but they are lizards! They are Komodo dragons!
Lizards are one of the biggest groups of reptiles on the earth. There are over 4,600 species of lizards across all continents, but Komodo dragons are special.
While geckos can grow up to 10 inches, Komodo dragons can reach up to 10 feet long! No wonder this beast doesn't satisfy itself with insects for food. Instead, Komodo dragons devour deer, pigs, and water buffalo.
These interesting creatures were one of the first land animals on the earth but now face extinction. In this lesson, you will discover the history and uniqueness of Komodo dragons.
Let's Get It! going!
The Komodo dragon, or Varanus komodoensis, is the largest lizard on the earth. The genus Varanus is the Latinization of the Arabic word waran, which means monitor.
The Egyptians believed that these lizards served as monitors, alerting people to the presence of crocodiles!
History
Tracing the origin of the Komodo dragon takes us to the beautiful island of Komodo in Indonesia, for which they are named.
In 1910, Lieutenant van Steyn van Hensbroek, a member of the occupying Dutch colonials, traveled to Komodo island after hearing stories about giant reptiles. There, he killed one and sent the skin and several photographs to the director of the Zoological Museum and Botanical Garden at Bogor, Java.
Fossils indicate that ancestors of the present-day Komodo dragon originated in Australia before migrating to Indonesia. They may also share a common ancestor to the dinosaur.
Characteristics
The average adult Komodo dragon is 8.5 feet long and weighs 150-200 lbs. They have sharp, curved claws and approximately 60 curved, pointed teeth. The strong points in their teeth help Komodo dragons tear large prey into smaller pieces.
Explore the physical and behavioral characteristics of Komodo dragons with the table below.
| Characteristics | Description |
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| Smell |
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| Vision |
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| Hearing |
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| Habitat |
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| Locomotion |
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| Feeding |
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| Communication |
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| Reproduction |
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Silent but Deadly
Unlike other predators, Komodo dragons do not run around and chase their prey. They are quiet, patient, and strategic. Prey who run fast enough to escape the jaws of a Komodo dragon may feel lucky.
However, if the Komodo dragon inflicts a wound, it will slowly kill the prey. This is due to the potent venom that quickens blood loss and shocks the animal.
As the prey dies, the Komodo dragon follows using its sense of smell. A Komodo dragon can feed on about 80% of a deceased animal in one sitting!
Watch the following video to see how they hunt.
If you want to see more Komodo dragons, watch the video below.
When ready, move on to the Got It? section to test your new knowledge about Komodo dragons!
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