KOMODO DRAGON (VARANUS KOMODOENSIS)

BASIC FACTS : Komodo dragons are the largest living lizard in the world. They are a type of monitor Lizard of the Varanidae family. When frightened, Komodo dragons can run up to 18km/h for a short distance. Usually, they run at a slow trot of 8 - 10km/h. The largest Komodo dragon measured weighed 165.9kg (365pounds). Large dragons usually weigh up to 90kg. It is hard to tell the difference between male and female dragons. However, males have a special scale pattern at the based of their tail. generally, males grow larger than females. The largest recorded Komodo dragon length is 3.13m (10feet 2 inches). Female Komodo dragons rarely grow over 2.5m (7feet 6 inches) in length. Scientist believe that Komodo dragons can live up to 50 years, maybe longer. Komodo dragons can swim at least 500m. However, they become sluggish in the water because the water cools their body temperature down.

Young dragons spend most of their time in trees but dragons over 1.5m long can not climb well. Dragons over 2 meters are too heavy to climb trees. The Komodo dragons are constantly regulating their body temperatures. In the early morning, they must warm-up their bodies in the sun. If their body temperature drops too low, the food in their stomach can rot and cause regurgitation or even death. However, the Komodo dragon's body temperature must not exceed 42 degrees celcius (108 degrees Fahrenheit). When it is too hot, they must rest and seek shade to prevent their body from over-heating. Dragons are most active from 6 - 10am in the morning and again from 3 - 5pm in the afternoon. During the rainy season. Komodo dragons stay in burrows if they are too cold. Komodo dragons sleep at night because it is usually too cool for them to be active. They will sleep where they will not loose too much heat at the edge of the savanna and monsoon forest or in burrows. The average sleeping burrow is only 75cm to 1.25m in length. The Komodo dragons will use the burrows of rodents, palm civets, wild board, porcupine (on Flores) and those made by other Komodo dragons. Nesting burrows are about 2 meters long

POPULATION & HABITAT : There are about 3.300 Komodo dragons in the park and in Flores. 1996/97 surveys showed 1.687 Komodo dragons in Komodo island and 1.223 Komodo dragons in Rinca For every female, there are about 3 males. Perhaps a small percentage of females is a response to keep the Komodo dragon populations from growing too quickly. Komodo dragons are only found in Komodo, Rinca, Gili Motang, and small part of north and west Flores island. There are recently extict in Padar. Dragons can be found almost everywhere on Komodo and Rinca. They can be found in the monsoon forest, in the savanna, on the beach, in the mangrove swamps and in burrows. Sometimes the younger one are found in the trees. The Komodo dragon's range is mostly from sea level to 450m above sea level. Their locations depends on their activity.

ORIGINS : Komodo dragons are one of the oldest living lizards. Direct ancestors of the Komodo dragons (Varanidae family) lived in 50 million years ago. Komodo dragons may have decent from a larger lizard from Java or from Australia (Megalania Prisca) which existed 30.000 years ago.

REPRODUCTION : Female dragons starts mating when they are 7 years old and male dragons start mating when they are 8 years old. The mating season of the Komodo dragons is from July to August. Female Komodo dragons lay up to 30 eggs. The average number of eggs is 18 per clutch, one clutch per year. Female Komodo dragons lay their eggs in a burrow. Often they use the mound of the scrub fowl. The female dragon digs several false tunnels so that predators can not find the eggs easily. The Komodo dragons eggs incubate for 8 - 9 months. The eggs hatch in March - April. The average size of Komodo dragons eggs are 8.6cm long, with diameter of 5.9cm and a weight of 105 grams. The eggs are about the size of swan eggs. The shells are soft and leathery. The average length is 30.4cm but their size can vary from 28cm to 55cm. The average weight is 80.3 grams.

MAMMALS : The most commonly seen mammals of Komodo National Park include : Timor deer, wild boar, wild horses, water buffalo and crab-eating macaques, palm civet, bats, mice and Rats. The Komodo dragons will prey or scavenge on the remains of all these animals

BIRDS : The birds in Komodo National park represent a mixture of Asian and Australian species. Some birds are eaten mainly by medium-sized dragons. Lesser Sulpher-crested cockatoos, Noisy friarbird, Orange - footed Scrub Fowl, Wallacean Drongo, Gree Jungle Fowl, Green Imperial Pigeon, Black-napped Oriele, Collared Kingfishers, Great-billed heron, White-bellied Sea Eagle

REPTILE : Komodo dragons eat a variety of reptiles, including snakes, skinks and other types of lizards

OTHER FAUNA OF KOMODO NATIONAL PARK : Other creatures on the islands of Komodo National Park include spiders, amphibians, butterflies, grasshoppers and other insects