Perhaps the hardest thing to believe about this huge reptile is that it may vanish from earth forever. Female komodo dragon has virgin births live science. Varanus komodoensis komodo dragon animal diversity web. However, on december 20, 2006, it was reported that flora, a captive komodo dragon living in the chester zoo, in england, became the second known komodo dragon to have laid unfertilized eggs. These are able to dig hole up to m using their powerful forelimbs and claws. The largest komodo ever to have been recorded was 166kg 366lbs and measured 3. The komodo dragon varanus komodoensis, also known as the komodo monitor, is a species of lizard found in the indonesian islands of komodo, rinca, flores, gili motang, and padar. They can live more than 30 years in the wild while a few years in the captivity. The komodo dragon is the largest surviving lizard in the world, averaging a length of 2. Komodo dragons for kids amazing animal books for young.
With only 4,000 left in the wild, the chance that we will ever encounter one outside of a zoo, is very slim. It occurs on komodo island and a few neighbouring islands of indonesias lesser sunda islands. Their early years are precarious, and they often fall victim to predators, including other komodo dragons. In the wild their range has contracted due to human activities. They are voracious eaters and have achieved the top position of the food chain in their habitat. Unfortunately we cannot grant her wish for a real komodo dragon so a book and small toy will have to do. In zoos, they are prone to infectious and parasitic diseases. The life expectancy for komodo dragons is between 25 and 30 years. Fighting, mating, egg laying and hatching season for komodo dragons the period between may and august is when you might be lucky enough to witness the fierce fighting of rival komodo dragon.
We all learned a lot about these fascinating creatures. On its facebook page, the zoo said the 30yearold dragon, named loka, had. The virgin births of several male komodo dragons at two english zoos might provide one explanation why jesus was. The first komodo dragons in captivity were displayed at london zoo in 1927. Komodo dragons are the largest lizards living on this planet. Komodo dragon, facts and photos national geographic. What its like to watch a komodo dragon dissection the. A member of the monitor lizard family varanidae, it is the largest extant species of lizard, growing to a maximum length of 3 metres 10 ft in rare cases and weighing up to approximately 70 kilograms 150 lb. Komodo dragon facts, diet, characteristics, venom, bite, care. A komodo dragon, which recently died in london zoo for unexplained reasons, lies on a steel gurney in front of them. Facts about the komodo dragon that kids would enjoy.
Mark carwardines guinness book of animal records gives the st louis. Their task, over the next three days, is to dissect it and measure all of its. The origin of the komodo dragon science smithsonian. Komodo dragons are protected under indonesian law, and a national park, komodo national park, was founded to aid protection efforts.
At which point i suddenly realized how stupid i sounded. The komodo dragon is the worlds largest living lizard. The life span of the komodo dragon is over 30 years. At 5 years old, they weigh about 55 pounds 25 kilograms and average 6. They can eat 80 percent of their body weight in one feeding. Komodo dragon varanus komodoensis animals az animals. More attempts to exhibit komodo dragons were made, but the lifespan of the. Varanus komodoensis is the largest extant lizard on earth and is endemic to. The big caveat here, of course, is that captive animals tend to be much.
While adw staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that. They appear capable of living at least 25 years in captivity, but probably much more. Auffenberg estimates a lifespan of 50 years in the wild. The komodo dragon is a member of the monitor lizard family. In fact, their life span gets reduces considerably in captivity. The worlds largest living lizard is the komodo dragon varanus komodoensis, a type of varanid lizard. The komodo dragon is a large species of lizard that is only found on a handful of islands in the indonesian archipelago. This species of lizard prefer hot and dry places and typically lives in dry open grassland, savanna, scrubland, and tropical forests at low elevations. The komodo dragon varanus komodoensis is the largest lizard on the face of the earth today. An ancient species of reptile, it first appeared on the planet more than 100 million years agothough it.
The komodo dragon lizard, varanus placovaranus komodoensis exhibition and longevity in captivity. A komodo dragon was exhibited in 1934 at the national zoo in washington, d. Outside captivity, the komodo dragon, or varanus komodoensis, is confined to the islands of komodo, rinca, flores, gili motang and gili dasami in central indonesia, which certainly helps as far. She loves it and takes it with her everywhere she goes. Komodo dragons real life dragons by jill sherman jan 1, 2017. A baby komodo dragon hatches from an egg produced asexually at the. In 1980, indonesia established komodo national park to protect the komodo dragon and its habitat. Komodo and a couple nearby islands in indonesia habitat.
The komodo dragon varanus komodoensis is a species of lizard that lives in the indonesian islands of komodo, rincah, flores, gili motang, and gili dasami. Facts about the komodo dragon that kids would enjoy reading. This 700squaremile refuge is also home to species such as the orangefooted scrub fowl and timor. Komodo dragons, the largest of the lizards, are under threat 1 as wild populations become smaller and more fragmented, as are 341 other species of reptile. Parthenogenesis, the production of offspring without fertilization by a male, is rare in vertebrate species, which usually reproduce after fusion of male and female gametes. Despite the fact that komodo dragons are very interesting and widely known, there is a. Komodo dragon lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits maximum longevity 62 years wild source ref. Fighting, mating, egg laying and hatching season for. By jeanna bryner live science editorinchief 20 december 2006. Pdf blood values in wild and captive komodo dragons. When threatened, they can throw up the contents of their stomachs to lessen their weight in. Most komodo dragons weigh in the region of 70kg 154lbs.
Bestselling author john davidson presents komodo dragons for kids amazing animal books for young readers. Komodo dragons have a mean bite and saliva that can kill any prey that gets. A normal adult komodo dragon diet consists mainly of carrion, but it is not uncommon for them to attack and eat a variety of large prey, including goats, pigs, deer, wild boar, horses, water buffalo, and smaller. As the vegetation rots, it creates warmth, which incubates the egg. Anage, umich, max planck, pantheria, arkive, ukc, akc.
Blood values in wild and captive komodo dragons varanus komodoensis article pdf available in zoo biology 196. Komodo dragon komodo dragon classification and evolution. The oldest komodo dragon in captivity has died, the calgary zoo announced tuesday. The komodo dragon varanus komodoensis, also known as the komodo monitor, is a species of lizard found in the indonesian islands of komodo, rinca, flores, and gili motang. Jon henley on the komodo dragon environment the guardian. Komodo dragons are the largest lizards, reaching 165 kg and greater than three meters in. The komodo dragon varanus komodoensis is a lizard species that is found on the islands particularly the komodo island in central indonesia. The komodo dragon is classed as vulnerable by the iucn.
Beautiful pictures and easy reading format will help children fall in love with komodo. The komodo dragons encounter with the scuba divers has made them quite famous. Furthermore, the komodo dragon almost certainly isnt an example of island giantism. The komodo dragon is classified as vulnerable on the iucn red list and listed on appendix i of cites. Breeding in captivity of the first ones dragons of komodo in europe in reptilandia park. Biology and conservation zoo and aquarium biology and. It is the worlds largest lizard, and it has a deadly bite. Komodo dragon varanus komodoensis longevity, ageing, and. More attempts to exhibit komodo dragons were made, but the lifespan.
Little is known about the lifespan of the komodo dragon. We use the most recent data from these primary sources. Komodo dragons can briefly run at speeds of up to mph 20 kph. Informational nonfiction, 234 words, level i grade 1, nonfiction series, lexile 450l multilevel book.
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