Komodo monitor lizards are giants of the animal world. Komodo monitor lizard: description of where it lives

Komodo Island is a small island belonging to the Lesser Sunda Islands archipelago, located between the larger islands of Sumbawa in the west and Flores in the east. Komodo is part of the Komodo National Park, which was founded in 1980 and, in addition to Komodo, includes two more neighboring islands, Rinka and Padar, as well as many small islands. The park is spread over an area of ​​603 square kilometers of land and 1214 square kilometers of sea waters and is currently a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On Komodo, only two thousand people live in a single village, and the most famous inhabitant of the national park on the island is the Komodo monitor lizard or, as it is also called, the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard in the world fauna.

1. The cruise ship is anchored in the middle of a huge and very picturesque bay off the coast of Komodo.

3. Delivery of tourists to the shore is carried out by motorboats of the vessel and local motorboats.

7. We sit in a large motor boat, go around the stern of our liner and move towards the coast ...

It's time to go deeper into the forest and get to know some of the inhabitants of this glorious place...

The Komodo dragon (Komodo dragon) is the largest lizard in the world. Komodo monitor lizards live only here - on the archipelago of the Lesser Sunda Islands: on the island of Komodo (1700 individuals), Rinka (1300 individuals), Jili Motang (100 individuals) and Flores (about 2000 individuals). According to researchers, neighboring Australia should be considered the birthplace of Komodo dragons, where, probably, this species developed, after which it moved to the nearby islands about 900 thousand years ago. Wild adult Komodo dragons weigh about 70 kg, but in captivity they can reach large sizes. The largest wild specimen for which there is reliable data was 3.13 m long and weighed 166 kg. The length of the tail in monitor lizards is about half the total length of the body. Komodo dragons lead a solitary lifestyle, uniting in non-permanent groups during feeding and during the breeding season. Dragons eat a wide variety of animals. They can eat insects, crabs, fish, sea turtles, lizards, snakes, birds, mice and rats, deer, wild boars, feral dogs, goats, buffalo and horses. The dragons of the island willingly enter the sea water, swim well and even swim between neighboring islands, sometimes overcoming considerable distances. When running over short distances, the monitor lizard is able to reach speeds of up to 20 km / h. To get food from a height (for example, on a tree), the Komodo monitor lizard can stand up on its hind legs, using its tail as a support. Young animals climb well and spend a lot of time in trees, escaping from snakes, birds of prey and adult dragons.

Monitor lizards hunt relatively large prey from ambush, sometimes knocking the victim down with the blows of a powerful tail. Large adult Komodo dragons feed mainly on carrion, but they often obtain this carrion in an unusual way. So, having tracked down a deer, a wild boar or a buffalo in the bushes, the monitor lizard attacks and seeks to inflict a lacerated wound on the animal, into which poison and many bacteria from the lizard's oral cavity are introduced. Even the largest males do not have enough strength to overcome an ungulate. However, the usual result of such contact is blood poisoning in the victim. The animal weakens and after a while dies. Monitor lizards have a good sense of smell and locate corpses by smell using a long forked tongue. In such cases, monitor lizards from all over the island come running to the smell of carrion. Females and juveniles prey on smaller animals. The Komodo dragon can swallow very large prey or large pieces of food, which is facilitated by the movable connection of the bones of the lower jaw and a capacious, expandable stomach. Monitor lizards do not shy away from feeding on their own kind - intraspecific cannibalism is very common among the dragons of Komodo Island. It is especially hard for young dragons, who for most of their youth are forced to hide from their older and more mature brethren. Monitor lizards reach puberty only approximately at the tenth year of life, but only a very small part of those born live to this time. The maximum life expectancy of monitor lizards in nature reaches 50 years or more.

Komodo dragons are one of the species potentially dangerous to humans, although they are less dangerous than crocodiles or sharks and do not pose a direct danger to adults. However, several cases of lizard attacks on people are known. Komodo dragon bites are extremely dangerous. The number of deaths due to untimely medical care (and, as a result, blood poisoning) reaches 99%. Human settlements on the islands are few, but they exist. As a rule, these are poor villages of fishermen and their families. In famine years, and especially in drought, monitor lizards come close to villages. They are especially attracted by the smell of human excrement, fish, etc. There are well-known cases of dragons digging up human corpses from shallow graves. Recently, however, Muslim Indonesians living on the islands have been burying the dead by covering them with dense cast cement slabs, inaccessible to giant lizards. When dragons approach villages, rangers usually capture individuals and move them to other areas of the island.

Killing monitor lizards is prohibited by law. Komodo dragons are a very rare and endangered animal species. In 1980, the Komodo monitor lizard was listed in the Red Book, and to protect the dragons from extinction, the Komodo National Park was created, in which we ended up. Before the tour, tourists are warned not to wear red clothes for a walk around the island, and also not to go into the forest with open cuts, wounds or abrasions. It is not worth fighting off a tourist group, which is accompanied by a guide and local guides with large horned sticks.

10. We walk in a string along a narrow path, and guides with horns follow in front and behind the chain. While there are no dragons, we admire the local nature.

13. "The first swallow" - a young dragon, seeing our group, timidly hides behind a tree ...

14. And here are the big dragons ... There were four of them. Spread out in the middle of the clearing, they lazily basked in the shade. At first glance, they looked full and happy. However, the guides with sticks were constantly on the alert.

16. Handsome!

17. Licked on tourists - so much food came! :)))

20. Smaller inhabitants of Komodo Island.

21. We return through the forest to the sea ...

22. We met a couple of deer not far from the shore.

23. Watched with curiosity by a baby dragon. Is it possible that this little angel will also grow into one of those giants that we came across in the forest? Seeing us, the dragon hurries to hide in the thicket of the forest.

25. Boats of a few local residents rock on the surface of turquoise water.

27. "Costa Allegra" on the roads of Komodo Island:

28. At 16-00 the liner weighed anchor and headed for the exit from the bay.

33. Leaving the bay, the ship entered the Indian Ocean. Prior to this, we always went inland shallow "island" seas belonging to the Pacific Ocean basin (Javan Sea, Flores Sea). Now, having left the strait, we found ourselves in the open part of the Indian Ocean, which we will follow until our arrival in Bali. Even outwardly, in perfect calm, a ship in the ocean shakes much stronger than in the sea. The wave here is long, the distance between adjacent waves sometimes significantly exceeds the length of the ship's hull.

So, moving along the calm, only evenly breathing Indian Ocean, we set a course for the island of Bali, which is expected to arrive tomorrow morning.

Komodo Island is located in the heart of the Indonesian archipelago. This is the habitat of the unique and largest lizards in the world - Komodo dragons.

We are in Indonesia. Komodo Island is relatively small, its area is about 390 sq. km. Almost its entire territory is occupied by the Komodo National Park, created in 1980 to protect the Komodo monitor lizards. The coastline seems to be indented by rocky capes, clearly of volcanic origin:

The nature here is unique. Arid savannah extends almost throughout the entire territory.

You can get here from the island of Bali on such tourist devices:

In general, Komodo is an island often visited by cruise ships from all over the world:

It is necessary to get here because of this unique miracle of nature - the Komodo dragon! This terrifying, deadly monitor lizard lives on the territory of the island. This is his home.

So, Komodo dragons are giant lizards, reaching a length of 3 meters and weighing up to 150 kg! The natural lifespan of monitor lizards in nature is probably around 50 years.

Handsome. Komodo dragons feed on a wide variety of animals. Their victims are fish, sea turtles, wild boars, buffaloes, deer and reptiles. Also, repeated cases of attacks on a person were recorded.

At first glance, these lizards seem very clumsy and unhurried. However, when running over short distances, the monitor lizard is able to reach speeds of up to 20 km / h. They hunt relatively large prey from an ambush, sometimes knocking the victim down with blows from a powerful tail, often breaking her legs in the process.

Monitor lizards are at the top of the island's food chain. And this is their victim - a deer:

Reptiles do not have poisonous teeth, but their bite is most often fatal. Having tracked down a deer, a wild boar or other large prey in the bushes, the monitor lizard attacks and seeks to inflict a laceration on the animal, into which many bacteria from the oral cavity are introduced. As a result of such an attack, blood poisoning occurs in the victim, the animal gradually weakens and dies after a while. The dragons of Komodo Island can only follow the victim and wait until he dies.

Tourists and monitor lizards are separated neither by a fence with barbed wire, nor by any moat, nothing to inspire confidence in safety. Groups of tourists are usually accompanied by rangers, armed with long poles with a forked end to protect themselves from possible dragon attacks.

Monitor lizards use burrows 1-5 meters long as shelters, which they dig with their powerful paws with claws.

Komodo dragons are less dangerous to humans than crocodiles or sharks. However, the number of deaths due to untimely medical assistance after bites (and, as a result, blood poisoning) reaches 99%!

To get food at a height, the monitor lizard can stand on its hind legs, using its tail as a support. Komodo dragons are good climbers and spend a lot of time in trees.

About 1,700 monitor lizards live on Komodo Island. On the neighboring island of Rinca - about 1,200 individuals. According to scientists, Australia should be considered the birthplace of Komodo monitor lizards.

Cannibalism is common among Komodo monitor lizards: adult lizards often eat smaller individuals. Therefore, as soon as the cubs are born, they immediately instinctively climb a tree, looking for shelter there.

The dragons of Komodo Island are without a doubt the most stunning animal discovery of the 20th century on planet Earth. In 1912, flying over the group of Lesser Sunda Islands in , a Dutch pilot was forced to land on the shore of a small uninhabited island due to a breakdown. Having comfortably settled down on the beach, the pilot began to repair his plane, when he suddenly felt that someone was standing behind him. Turned around and freaked out...

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF

Kingdom: Animals (Animalia).
Type: Chordata.
Class: Reptiles (Reptilia).
Order: Scaled (Squamates).
Family: Monitor lizards (Varanidae).
Genus: Monitor lizards (Varanus).
Species: Komodo monitor lizard (Varanus komodensis).

WHY IS INCLUDED IN THE RED BOOK

According to scientists, there are between 4,000 and 5,000 Komodo monitor lizards left on Earth. Why did it happen so? There are many reasons: high volcanic activity, environmental pollution, illegal production of monitor lizards for the sake of skins and claws, and tourism. Part of the reptiles die of starvation, as poachers kill animals that are easiest for monitor lizards to hunt. The Komodo National Park was established in 1980 specifically to protect and preserve the unique species.

WHERE Dwells

The Komodo dragon lives in Indonesia, but only on a limited number of islands: Rinca, Gili Motang, Florex and Komodo. According to the name of the last place, the monitor lizard received the name "Komodo". Scientists believe that the species is home to. Presumably, about 900 thousand years ago, the species entered the Indonesian islands, where it successfully took root. These animals do their best to avoid human contact.

HOW TO FIND OUT

The Komodo dragon is the largest lizard in the world. In the wild, monitor lizards weigh up to 70 kg, but when kept in captivity, they can be much larger. The largest Komodo dragon known to science reached a body length of 3.13 m and weighed 166 kg. In this case, about half the length is the tail. The skin of monitor lizards is brownish-brown and covered with light yellow speckles. The color of young monitor lizards is more intense. They have eye spots on their backs and tails, which can coalesce to form stripes. Aborigines often call the Komodo monitor lizard "ground crocodile". The nickname is fully justified by many features of the external structure of the reptile. She has a stocky squat body, short, widely spaced legs, a flattened head, very sharp, laterally flattened teeth with jagged edges. They help to cope excellently even with large prey. The long curved claws are impressive! With their help, monitor lizards dig deep shelter holes and hunt their victims.

LIFESTYLE AND BIOLOGY

The Komodo dragon leads a solitary lifestyle. He is rather secretive and does not like company. Only occasionally, for example, during the mating season or during the search for food, monitor lizards unite in small groups. The rest of the time, each individual prefers to take care of itself on its own.

The Komodo dragon is highly dependent on temperature. Therefore, many features of his life are influenced by weather conditions. He is active during the day. He spends the night in a shelter, from which, if necessary, he can still go out and go hunting. The Komodo dragon is an excellent swimmer. It perfectly overcomes the distances between the islands by water. Juveniles spend a lot of time in trees, while older reptiles are more common on the ground. With its seeming clumsiness, the Komodo monitor lizard is able to reach speeds of up to 20 km / h and get food from a small height, standing on its hind legs and leaning on its tail.

The average life expectancy is 25 years. It is assumed that they can live longer. By about 10 years of age, monitor lizards reach sexual maturity. Males arrange fights for the female, and the winner gets the right to continue their race. The female lays a clutch of 20 eggs in a hole or compost heap. The female remains to guard the nest for eight to nine months, until the babies are born. Immediately after birth, they leave the nest and rush to the trees, where they spend the first few years of their lives.

Who can not be called picky in food is the Komodo monitor lizard. He is ready to swallow anything that moves, be it a grasshopper, a frog or a dog. Its impressive size, sharp teeth and tenacious claws help it attack even such large animals as a horse or a deer. Of course, he is not able to immediately kill the animal. But, inflicting wounds on him, with which poison and bacteria enter, the monitor lizard patiently waits until his victim dies, and only then proceeds to the meal. Do not disdain monitor lizards and carrion. In its environment, the Komodo monitor lizard is the largest and most dangerous predator, so there is no one to be afraid of.

The Komodo dragon easily moves from one emotional state to another. A peacefully lying and seemingly calm reptile can become angry and aggressive in a matter of minutes. There are known cases of attacks by Komodo monitor lizards on zoo employees and ordinary people. Therefore, the giant should be treated with extreme caution.

In December 1910, the Dutch administration on the island of Java received information from the administrator of Flores Island (for civil affairs), Stein van Hensbroek, that giant creatures unknown to science inhabit the outlying islands of the Lesser Sunda Archipelago.

Van Stein's report stated that in the vicinity of Labuan Badi of Flores Island, as well as on the nearby island of Komodo, an animal lives, which the local natives call "buaya-darat", which means "earthen crocodile".

Of course, you already guessed what we are talking about now ...

Photo 2.

According to local residents, the length of some monsters reaches seven meters, and three- and four-meter buya-darats are common. The curator of the Butsnzorg Zoological Museum at the Botanical Park of West Java Province, Peter Owen, immediately entered into correspondence with the manager of the island and asked him to organize an expedition to get a reptile unknown to European science.

This was done, although the first lizard caught was only 2 meters 20 centimeters long. Her skin and photographs were sent by Hensbroek to Owens. In the accompanying note, he said that he would try to catch a larger specimen, although this was not easy to do, since the natives were terribly afraid of these monsters. Convinced that the giant reptile was not a myth, the Zoological Museum sent an animal trapping specialist to Flores. As a result, the employees of the Zoological Museum managed to get four specimens of "earth crocodiles", two of which were almost three meters long.

Photo 3.

In 1912, Peter Owens published an article in the Bulletin of the Botanical Garden about the existence of a new species of reptile, naming an animal previously unknown to the spider. komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis Ouwens). Later it turned out that giant monitor lizards are found not only on Komodo, but also on the small islands of Ritya and Padar, lying west of Flores. A careful study of the archives of the Sultanate showed that this animal was mentioned in the archives dating back to 1840.

The First World War forced to stop research, and only 12 years later interest in the Komodo monitor resumed. Now, US zoologists have become the main researchers of the giant reptile. In English, this reptile became known as komodo dragon(comodo dragon). For the first time, a live specimen was caught by the expedition of Douglas Barden in 1926. In addition to two living specimens, Barden also brought 12 effigies to the United States, three of which are on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Photo 4.

The Indonesian Komodo National Park, protected by UNESCO, was founded in 1980 and includes a group of islands with adjacent warm waters and coral reefs with an area of ​​more than 170 thousand hectares.
The islands of Komodo and Rinca are the largest in the reserve. Of course, the main celebrity of the park is Komodo dragons. However, many tourists come here to see the unique terrestrial and underwater flora and fauna of Komodo. There are about 100 species of fish here. There are about 260 species of reef corals and 70 species of sponges in the sea.
The national park is also home to such animals as the maned sambar, Asian water buffalo, wild boar, Javan macaque.

Photo 5.

It was Barden who established the true size of these animals and refuted the myth of seven-meter giants. It turned out that males rarely exceed the length of three meters, and females are much smaller, their length is not more than two meters.

Years of research have made it possible to study well the habits and lifestyle of giant reptiles. It turned out that Komodo dragons, like other cold-blooded animals, are active only from 6 to 10 am and from 3 to 5 pm. They prefer dry, well-sun areas, and are generally associated with arid plains, savannahs, and tropical dry forests.

Photo 6.

In the hot season (May-October), they often stick to dry riverbeds with jungle-covered banks. Young animals can climb well and spend a lot of time in trees, where they find food, and in addition, they hide from their own adult relatives. Giant monitor lizards are cannibals, and adults, on occasion, will not miss the opportunity to feast on smaller relatives. As shelters from heat and cold, monitor lizards use burrows 1-5 m long, which they dig with strong paws with long, curved and sharp claws. Hollow trees often serve as shelters for young monitor lizards.

Komodo dragons, despite their size and outward clumsiness, are good runners. At short distances, reptiles can reach speeds of up to 20 kilometers, and at long distances, their speed is 10 km / h. To get food from a height (for example, on a tree), monitor lizards can stand on their hind legs, using their tail as a support. Reptiles have good hearing, sharp eyesight, but their most important sense organ is the sense of smell. These reptiles are able to smell carrion or blood at a distance of even 11 kilometers.

Photo 7.

Most of the monitor lizard population lives in the western and northern parts of the Flores Islands - about 2000 specimens. About 1000 live on Komodo and Rincha, and on the smallest islands of the Gili Motang and Nusa Kode groups, only 100 individuals each.

At the same time, it was noticed that the number of monitor lizards has fallen and individuals are gradually shrinking. They say that the decline in the number of wild ungulates on the islands due to poaching is to blame, so monitor lizards are forced to switch to smaller food.

Photo 8.

Of the modern species, only the Komodo dragon and the crocodile monitor attack prey much larger than themselves. The crocodile monitor lizard has very long and almost straight teeth. This is an evolutionary adaptation for successful feeding by birds (breaking through dense plumage). They also have serrated edges, and the teeth of the upper and lower jaws can act like scissors, which makes it easier for them to dismember prey in the tree, where they spend most of their lives.

Yadozuby - poisonous lizards. Today, two species are known - gila monster and escorpion. They live mainly in the southwestern United States and Mexico in rocky foothills, semi-deserts and deserts. The most active poisonous teeth are in the spring, when their favorite food appears - bird eggs. They also feed on insects, small lizards and snakes. The poison is produced by the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands and flows through the ducts to the teeth of the lower jaw. When bitten, the teeth of the gila teeth - long and curved back - almost half a centimeter enter the body of the victim.

Photo 9.

The menu of monitor lizards includes a wide variety of animals. They practically eat everything: large insects and their larvae, crabs and fish thrown out by storms, rodents. And although monitor lizards are born scavengers, they are also active hunters, and often large animals become their prey: wild boars, deer, dogs, domestic and feral goats, and even the largest ungulates of these islands - Asian water buffaloes.
Giant monitor lizards do not actively pursue their prey, but rather steal it and grab it when it comes close by itself.

Photo 10.

When hunting large animals, reptiles use very reasonable tactics. Adult monitor lizards, leaving the forest, slowly move towards grazing animals, from time to time they stop and crouch to the ground if they feel that they are attracting their attention. They can knock down wild boars, deer with a blow of their tail, but more often they use their teeth - inflicting a single bite on the animal's leg. This is where success lies. After all, now the “biological weapon” of the Komodo dragon has been launched.

Photo 11.

For a long time it was believed that the victim was eventually killed by disease-causing organisms in the monitor lizard's saliva. But in 2009, scientists found that in addition to the “deadly cocktail” of pathogenic bacteria and viruses in saliva, to which monitor lizards themselves have immunity, reptiles are poisonous.

Studies led by Bryan Fry from the University of Queensland (Australia) have shown that the number and types of bacteria commonly found in the oral cavity of the Komodo dragon is not fundamentally different from other carnivores.

Moreover, according to Fry, the Komodo dragon is a very clean animal.

Komodo dragons inhabiting the islands of Indonesia are the largest predators on these islands. They prey on pigs, deer and Asiatic buffalo. 75% of pigs and deer die from the bite of a monitor lizard after 30 minutes from blood loss, another 15% - after 3-4 hours from the poison secreted by its salivary glands.

A larger animal - a buffalo, having been attacked by a monitor lizard, always, despite deep wounds, leaves the predator alive. Following its instinct, a bitten buffalo usually seeks refuge in a warm body of water teeming with anaerobic bacteria and eventually succumbs to the infection that enters its legs through the wounds.

Pathogenic bacteria found in the oral cavity of Komodo dragons in previous studies, according to Fry, are traces of infections that enter his body from contaminated drinking water. The number of these bacteria is not enough to cause the death of a buffalo from a bite.

The Komodo dragon has two venom glands in its lower jaw that produce toxic proteins. These proteins, when released into the body of the victim, prevent blood clotting, lower blood pressure, contribute to muscle paralysis and the development of hypothermia. Everything in general leads the victim to shock or loss of consciousness. The venom gland of Komodo monitor lizards is more primitive than that of poisonous snakes. The gland is located in the lower jaw under the salivary glands, its ducts open at the base of the teeth, and do not exit through special channels in poisonous teeth, as in snakes.

Photo 12.

In the mouth, poison and saliva mix with decaying food, forming a mixture in which many different deadly bacteria multiply. But this did not surprise scientists, but the poison delivery system. It turned out to be the most complex of all such systems in reptiles. Instead of injecting with a single blow with their teeth, like poisonous snakes, monitor lizards have to literally rub it into the victim's wound, making jerks with their jaws. This evolutionary invention has helped giant monitor lizards survive for thousands of years.

Photo 14.

After a successful attack, time begins to work for the reptile, and the hunter is left to follow the victim all the time. The wound does not heal, the animal becomes weaker every day. After two weeks, even such a large animal as a buffalo has no strength left, its legs buckle and it falls. For the monitor lizard, it's time for a feast. He slowly approaches the victim and rushes at her. At the smell of blood, his relatives come running. In places of feeding, fights often arise between equal males. As a rule, they are cruel, but not deadly, as evidenced by the numerous scars on their bodies.

For people, a huge head covered like a shell, with unkind, unblinking eyes, a toothy gaping mouth, from which a forked tongue protrudes, all the time in motion, a bumpy and folded body of a dark brown color on strong spread legs with long claws and a massive tail is a living embodiment of the image of extinct monsters of distant eras. One can only be amazed at how such creatures could survive today practically unchanged.

Photo 15.

Paleontologists believe that 5-10 million years ago the ancestors of the Komodo dragon appeared in Australia. This assumption fits well with the fact that the only known representative of large reptiles is Megalania prisca measuring from 5 to 7 m and weighing 650-700 kg was found on this continent. Megalania, and the full name of the monstrous reptile can be translated from Latin as “the great ancient tramp”, preferred, like the Komodo monitor lizard, to settle in grassy savannahs and sparse forests, where he hunted mammals, including very large ones, such as diprodonts, various reptiles and birds. These were the largest poisonous creatures that ever existed on Earth.

Fortunately, these animals died out, but the Komodo dragon took their place, and now it is these reptiles that attract thousands of people to come to the time-forgotten islands to see the last representatives of the ancient world in natural conditions.

Photo 16.

There are 17,504 islands in Indonesia, although these numbers are not final. The Indonesian government has set itself the difficult task of conducting a complete audit of all the Indonesian islands without exception. And who knows, maybe, after its completion, animals unknown to people will still be discovered, although not as dangerous as Komodo monitor lizards, but certainly no less amazing!

Photo 17.

The Komodo monitor lizard is an amazing and truly unique animal, which is not without reason called a dragon. The largest living lizard spends most of its time hunting. It is the object of pride of the islanders and the ongoing interest of tourists.

Our article will tell about the life of this dangerous predator, the features of its behavior and the characteristics characteristic of the species.

Appearance

The photos of Komodo monitor lizards given in our article help to understand why the locals called this reptile a land crocodile. These animals are really comparable in size.

Most adult Komodo monitor lizards reach 2.5 meters in length, while their weight barely exceeds half a centner. But even among the giants there are champions. There is reliable information about the Komodo dragon, the length of which exceeded 3 meters, and the weight reached 150 kg.

Only a specialist can visually distinguish a male from a female. Sexual dimorphism is practically not expressed, but male monitor lizards are usually slightly more massive. But to determine which of the two monitor lizards is older, any tourist who arrived on the island for the first time will be able to: the young are always colored brighter. In addition, with age, folds and leathery growths form on dull skin.

The body of the monitor lizard is squat, stocky, with very powerful limbs. The tail is mobile and strong. The paws are topped with huge claws.

The huge mouth looks menacing, even when the monitor lizard is calm. The nimble forked tongue, which now and then emerges from it, is called creepy and frightening by many eyewitnesses.

Story

Giant monitor lizards on Komodo Island were first discovered in the early twentieth century. Since then, scientists have continued to study the species.

It has been established that the history of the development and evolution of monitor lizards is associated with Australia. The species diverged from its historical ancestor about 40 million years ago, then migrated to the remote mainland and nearby islands.

Later, the population shifted to the islands of Indonesia. Perhaps this is due to natural phenomena or a decrease in the populations of species that are of food interest for monitor lizards. In any case, the fauna of Australia only benefited from such a resettlement - many species literally escaped extinction. But the Indonesian ones were not lucky: many scientists associate their extinction precisely with the predators of the genus Varanus.

Modernity has successfully mastered new territories and feels great.

Behavioral Features

Monitor lizards are diurnal and prefer to sleep at night. Like the rest of the cold-blooded, they are sensitive to temperature extremes. The hunting time comes at dawn. Leading solitary monitor lizards are not averse to join forces while chasing game.

It may seem that Komodo dragons are clumsy fat people, but this is far from the case. These animals are unusually hardy, mobile and strong. They are able to reach speeds of up to 20 km / h, and during their run, as they say, the earth trembles. Dragons feel no less confident in the water: it is not a problem for them to swim to the neighboring island. Sharp nails, strong musculature and a balance tail help these animals to climb trees and steep rocks perfectly. Needless to say, how difficult it is to escape from the monitor lizard to the victim on whom he laid eyes?

dragon life

Adult Komodo monitor lizards live separately from each other. But once a year the flock converges. The period of love and creation of families begins with bloody battles in which it is impossible to simply lose. The fight can end either in victory or death from wounds.

No other animal is dangerous for the monitor lizard. In their natural habitat, these animals do not know anyone stronger than themselves. People don't hunt them either. Only another dragon can kill a dragon.

Titan mating games

The victorious monitor lizard can choose a girlfriend with whom he will have kids. The couple will build a nest, the female will guard the eggs for about eight months, which can be encroached upon by small nocturnal predators. By the way, relatives are also not averse to enjoying such a delicacy. But as soon as the babies are born, the mother will leave them. They will have to survive on their own, relying only on the ability to disguise themselves and run.

Monitor lizards do not form permanent pairs. The next mating season will start from scratch - that is, with new battles in which more than one dragon will die.

Komodo monitor lizard on the hunt

This animal is a real killing machine. Komodo islands can even attack those who are much larger than them in size, such as buffaloes. After the death of the victim, a feast begins. Monitor lizards eat the carcass, tearing off and swallowing huge pieces.

It is noteworthy that most predators prefer one thing - either fresh meat or carrion. The digestive system of the monitor lizard is able to cope with both. Giants gladly feast on the carcasses brought by the sea.

Killer Poison

Powerful jaws, musculature and claws are not the monitor lizard's only weapons. The real gem of the arsenal can be called a unique saliva. It contains not only huge doses (probably obtained by eating carrion), but also poison.

For a long time, scientists were sure that the death of a bitten victim comes from banal sepsis. But recently the presence of poisonous glands has been established. The amount of poison is small, causing instant death only in small animals. But the received dose is enough to start irreversible processes.

Monitor lizards are not only excellent tacticians, but also delightful strategists. They know how to wait, sometimes hanging around near the victim for 2-3 weeks and watching how she slowly dies.

coexistence with man

A logical question arises as to whether the Komodo monitor lizard can kill a woman, a man or a teenager? The answer, unfortunately, is yes. The lethality of a lizard bite exceeds 90%. The poison is especially dangerous for a child.

But modern medicine has an antidote. Therefore, in case of an unsuccessful attempt to make friends with a monitor lizard, you should immediately go to the hospital. The death of a person from a bite in our time is not such a common occurrence. As a rule, it occurs if a person hopes that he will be able to cope with an indisposition. Doctors strongly recommend not to take risks, human immunity is not designed for such loads as the poison of an exotic lizard.

This should be remembered not only by tourists, but also by those who decide to settle an unusual pet at home. In the intensive care unit of the district hospital, there may simply not be the necessary antidote, so prior consultation with a competent breeder is essential.

Monitor lizards in the reserve

No matter how sad it may sound, the formidable predator takes its place in the Red Book. Monitor lizards are protected at the state level. But the islands of Komodo, Flores, Gili Motang and Rincha have created huge reserves in which the giants live for their own pleasure. Despite the security and the work of a team of professionals, cases of attacks on people are sometimes recorded. Often this is due to excessive human attention to eating or fighting predators. Camera flash or noise can provoke an attack.

Therefore, if you set out to admire the Komodo monitor lizards, follow the rules of the reserve and listen to the instructor's advice.