The Komodo dragon or the Komodo
monitor (Varanus Komodoensis) is a giant monitor lizard found in Komodo
island, a small semi-arid island located between the islands of Sumbawa
and Flores. The prehistoric animal can also be found in several other
nearby islands including Rinca island in the Indonesian archipelago.The Komodo dragon, which is called "Ora" by the local people, is considered the largest lizard and the last of their kind remaining in the world today. It can grow up to 3 to 4 meters in length and run at the speed of up to 24 kilometers per hour.
The Komodo dragons use their forked tongue to sample the air for scents. Their eyesight is good for distinguishing movement and color as far away as 300 metres (980 ft) except in low light. Despite their visible earholes, they are only able to hear sounds between 400hz up to 2000 Hz. The giant monitor lizards, whose ancestors roamed the earth half a million years ago, are characterized by their short legs with large talons, a stout body and very long tails that can be used as weapon to crush an opponent.
Preferring hot and dry places,
the Komodo dragons typically live in dry open grassland, savanna, and
tropical forest at low elevations. They are solitary animals and usually
come together only to mate and feed on carrion. They sleep in caves or
in gullies and among tree roots at night, and come out to feed in the
morning. Female Komodo dragons can lay from 20 up to 40 eggs in a hole
in the ground.Komodo dragons' diet consists of a variety of animal species. Young Komodo dragons normally feed on insects and small lizards. However, they begin to eat mice and other small mammals as they grow older. Adult komodo dragons prey on bigger animals such as pigs, goats, deer, young buffaloes, and horses. Although the Komodo dragons are considered harmless, it is advisable to keep a safe distance from them.
