Komodo dragons were first documented by Europeans in 1910, when rumors of a "land crocodile" reached Lieutenant van Steyn van Hensbroek of the Dutch colonial administration. Taxonomic history Skull of a Komodo dragon They are protected under Indonesian law, and Komodo National Park was founded in 1980 to aid protection efforts. In the wild, their range has contracted due to human activities, and is likely to contract further from the effects of climate change due to this, they are listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List. Their large size and fearsome reputation make them popular zoo exhibits.
Komodo dragons were first recorded by Western scientists in 1910. They take 8 to 9 years to mature and are estimated to live up to 30 years. Young Komodo dragons are vulnerable and dwell in trees to avoid predators, such as cannibalistic adults. The eggs are incubated for seven to eight months, hatching in April, when insects are most plentiful. Mating begins between May and August, and the eggs are laid in September as many as 20 eggs are deposited at a time in an abandoned megapode nest or in a self-dug nesting hole. Komodo dragons also occasionally attack humans. The diet of Komodo dragons mainly consists of Javan rusa ( Rusa timorensis), though they also eat considerable amounts of carrion. Komodo dragons' group behavior in hunting is exceptional in the reptile world. Komodo dragons hunt and ambush prey including invertebrates, birds, and mammals. It is the largest extant species of lizard, growing to a maximum length of 3 m (9.8 ft), and weighing up to 70 kg (150 lb).Īs a result of their size, Komodo dragons are apex predators, and dominate the ecosystems in which they live. The Komodo dragon ( Varanus komodoensis), also known as the Komodo monitor, is a member of the monitor lizard family Varanidae that is endemic to the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, and Gili Motang.
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