The largest lizard. Names and features of different types of lizards. Argentine black and white tegu

Reptiles from ( Squamata), which includes more than 10 thousand species. They are found on all but . Lizards range in size from small chameleons to huge Komodo dragons. They tend to move on all fours. Although, some species do not have limbs and are more like snakes.

Lizards are territorial animals. Males fight among themselves for territory control, but are tolerant of the presence of females. Large lizards, such as the Komodo dragon, prey on large animals such as buffaloes, while small lizards feed on insects.

Below is a list, names, descriptions and photos of the largest living lizards in the world.

Argentine black and white tegu

Argentine black and white tegu ( Salvator merianae), also known as the giant tegu - the most great view lizards of the genus tegu. Adult males can reach a body length of 120-140 cm. These lizards live in semi-deserts, savannas and tropical forests Central and. Tegus are capable of high speeds over short distances. They are one of the few lizards that can regulate their body temperature during the breeding season. They feed on insects, snails, spiders and others.

striped monitor lizard

Striped monitor, or water monitor ( Varanus salvator) is a lizard species endemic to Southeast and South Asia. These are the most common monitor lizards in Asia. Their range ranges from Northeast India, Sri Lanka, the Malay Peninsula to the islands of Indonesia. Water monitor lizards are large lizards that reach 150-200 cm in length and weigh up to 20 kg or more. They have a muscular body and a powerful tail. The keen sense of smell of the striped monitor helps him identify and overtake prey kilometers from.

Arizona gila-tooth

white-throated monitor

white-throated monitor ( Varanus albigularis) - one of largest species lizards in . It is found in the southern, eastern and central regions. Average weight adult varies from 3 to 5 kg in females and from 6 to 8 kg in males; large males reach 15-17 kg. Body length can reach 150-200 cm. White-throated monitor lizards prefer to live in trees away from water. They are known to be very territorial and will bite, scratch or whip with their powerful tail when threatened. Found in the deserts of South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory. The habitat consists of gorges and rocky outcrops. giant monitor lizard prefers hard-to-reach places with minimal human intervention. A large monitor lizard can reach 250 cm in length and weigh 15-20 kg. The basis of the diet of these monitor lizards are insects, fish, small lizards, and rabbits. Larger individuals prey on wombats, dingoes and kangaroos. When threatened, the perenthi flees or freezes in place, which is typical of most monitor lizards.

komodo dragon

komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) - the largest living lizard in the world; can grow up to 300 cm in length and reach a mass of about 70 kg. Found in the Indonesian Lesser Sunda Islands such as Komodo, Flores, Padar, Rinka and Gili Motang. Komodo dragons have a long flat head with a rounded muzzle, a huge muscular tail, strong paws and scaly skin. They are not afraid to hunt big booty including deer, wild boar and buffalo. Attacks on people have also been reported. The saliva of a Komodo dragon is highly toxic, and one bite is enough to kill a buffalo in less than 12 hours.

komodo dragon- one of the most amazing reptiles on the planet. A strong, unusually mobile giant lizard is also called the Komodo dragon. External similarity With mythical creature monitor lizard provide a huge body, long tail and powerful bent paws.

A strong neck, massive shoulders, a small head give the lizard a militant look. Powerful muscles are covered with rough scaly skin. A huge tail serves as a weapon and support during the hunt and showdown with rivals.

Origin of the species and description

Varanus komodoensis is a chordate of the reptile class. Belongs to the squamous order. Family and genus - monitor lizards. The only one of its kind is the Komodo dragon. First described in 1912. The giant Indonesian monitor lizard is a representative of a relict population of very large monitor lizards. They also inhabited during the Pliocene period. Their age is 3.8 million years.

Traffic earth's crust 15 million years ago caused the influx of Australia into Southeast Asia. The transformation of the landmass allowed the large Waranids to return to the territory of the Indonesian archipelago. This theory was proved by the discovery of fossils similar to the bones of V. komodoensis. The Komodo monitor lizard really comes from Australia, and the largest extinct lizard megalania is its closest relative.

The development of the modern Komodo dragon began in Asia with the genus Varanus. 40 million years ago, giant lizards migrated to Australia, where they developed into the Pleistocene monitor lizard - Megalania. Such an impressive size of megalania was achieved in a non-competitive food environment.

In Eurasia, the remains of extinct Pliocene species of lizards, similar in size to modern Komodo dragons - Varanus sivalensis, have also been found. This proves that giant lizards thrived even in conditions where there is high food competition from carnivores.

Appearance and features

The Indonesian monitor lizard resembles extinct ankylosaurs in body and skeleton structure. A long squat body, elongated parallel to the ground. Strong curved paws do not give the lizard grace when running, but do not slow it down either. Lizards can run, maneuver, jump, climb trees and even stand on their hind legs.

Komodo lizards are capable of accelerating up to 40 km per hour. Sometimes they compete in speed with deer and antelopes. There are many videos on the network where a hunting monitor stalks and overtakes ungulate mammals.

Komodo dragon has a complex coloration. The main tone of the scales is brown with polysyllabic inclusions and transitions from gray-blue to red-yellow flowers. By color, you can determine which age group refers to the lizard. In young individuals, the color is brighter, in adults it is calmer.

Video: Komodo dragon

Small in comparison with the body, the head resembles a cross between the head of a crocodile and a turtle. There are small eyes on the head. A forked tongue protrudes from a wide mouth. The ears are hidden in the folds of the skin.

A long, powerful neck passes into the body and ends with a strong tail. An adult male can reach 3 meters, females -2.5. Weight from 80 to 190 kg. The female is lighter -70 to 120 kg. Monitor lizards move on four legs. During the hunt and showdown for the possession of females and territory, they are able to stand on their hind legs. A clinch between two males can last up to 30 minutes.

Monitor lizards are hermits. They live separately and unite only during the mating season. Life expectancy in nature is up to 50 years. Puberty in the Komodo dragon occurs at 7-9 years. Females do not groom or care for offspring. Them maternal instinct enough to protect the laid eggs for 8 weeks. After the appearance of offspring, the mother begins to hunt for newborns.

Where does the Komodo dragon live?

The Komodo dragon has an isolated distribution in only one part of the world, making it especially susceptible to natural disasters. The area of ​​​​the range is small and amounts to several hundred square kilometers.

Adult Komodo dragons live mainly in tropical forests. They prefer open, flat areas with tall grasses and shrubs, but are also found in other habitats such as beaches, ridgetops, and dry riverbeds. Young Komodo dragons live in forested areas until they are eight months old.

This species is found only in South-East Asia on the scattered islands of the Lesser Sunda archipelago. The most densely populated monitor lizards are Komodo, Flores, Gili Motang, Rincha and Padar and a few other tiny islands in the vicinity. First giant lizard Europeans saw on the island of Komodo. The discoverers of the Komodo dragon were shocked by its size and believed that the creature could fly. Hearing stories of living dragons, hunters and adventurers rushed to the island.

An armed group of people landed on the island and managed to get one monitor lizard. It turned out that this is a large lizard over 2 meters in length. The next mined specimens reached 3 meters or more. The research results were published two years later. They refuted the speculation that the animal could fly or breathe fire. The lizard was given the name Varanus komodoensis. However, another name was assigned to it - komodo dragon.

The Komodo dragon has become something of a living legend. In the decades that have passed since the discovery of Komodo, various scientific expeditions from a number of countries have carried out field studies dragons on Komodo island. Monitor lizards did not go unnoticed by hunters, who gradually reduced the population to a critical minimum.

What does the Komodo dragon eat?

Komodo dragons are carnivores. It was believed that they eat mostly carrion. In fact, they often and actively hunt. They ambush large animals. Waiting for the victim takes long time. Komodos track prey over long distances. There are cases when Komodo dragons knocked down large ones with their tails. A keen sense of smell allows you to find food at a distance of several kilometers.

Monitor lizards eat prey by tearing large pieces of meat and swallowing them whole, while holding the carcass with their front paws. Loosely articulated jaws and expanding stomachs allow them to swallow prey whole. After digestion, the Komodo dragon regurgitates bones, horns, hair, and teeth from its stomach. After cleansing the stomach, monitor lizards clean their muzzle on grasses, bushes or dirt.

The Komodo dragon's diet is varied and includes invertebrates, other reptiles, and smaller species. Monitor lizards eat birds, their eggs, small mammals. Among their victims are wild boars,. Large animals such as deer, horses and are also eaten. Young monitor lizards feed on insects, eggs of birds and other reptiles. Their diet also includes small mammals.

Sometimes monitor lizards attack and bite people. There are cases when they eat human corpses, digging up bodies from shallow graves. This habit of raiding graves caused the people of Komodo to move the graves from sandy to clay soil and lay stones on top of them to keep the lizards away.

Features of character and lifestyle

Despite the huge growth and large body weight, the Komodo monitor lizard is a rather secretive animal. Avoids meeting people. In captivity, it does not become attached to people and demonstrates independence.

The Komodo dragon is a solitary animal. Does not form groups. Zealously guards its territory. Does not educate and does not protect its offspring. At the first opportunity, he is ready to feast on a cub. Prefers hot and dry places. Usually lives in open plains, savannahs and rainforests at low altitudes.

It is most active during the day, although it shows some nocturnal activity. Komodo dragons are solitary, coming together only to mate and eat. They are capable of running fast and adept at climbing trees when young. To catch unreachable prey, the Komodo monitor lizard can stand on its hind legs and use its tail as a support. Uses claws as weapons.

For shelter, it digs holes from 1 to 3 m wide using powerful front paws and claws. because of big size and the habit of sleeping in burrows is able to conserve body heat during the night and minimize its loss. He knows how to disguise himself well. Patient. Able to spend hours in ambush waiting for their prey.

The Komodo dragon hunts during the day but stays in the shade during the hottest part of the day. These resting places, usually located on ridges with a cool sea breeze, are marked with droppings and cleared of vegetation. They also serve as strategic ambush sites for deer.

Social structure and reproduction

Komodo dragons do not form pairs, do not live in groups and do not form communities. They prefer an exclusively isolated lifestyle. Carefully protect their territory from relatives. Other members of their species are seen as enemies.

Mating in this species of lizards occurs in summer time. From May to August, males fight for females and territory. Violent fights sometimes end in the death of one of the opponents. An opponent who is pinned to the ground is considered defeated. The fight takes place on the hind legs.

During battle, monitor lizards can purge their stomachs and defecate to lighten their bodies and improve their agility. This lizard technique is also used when running away from danger. The winner starts courting the female. In September, the females are ready to lay their eggs. However, in order to have offspring, females do not have to have a male.

Komodo dragons are parthenogenesis. Females can lay unfertilized eggs without the participation of males. They develop exclusively male cubs. Scientists suggest that this is how new colonies appear on previously monitor-free islands. After tsunamis and storms, females thrown by waves onto deserted islands begin to lay eggs in the complete absence of males.

Females of the Komodo monitor lizard choose bushes, sand and caves for laying. They camouflage their nests from predators ready to feast on monitor lizard eggs, and monitor lizards themselves. Incubation period masonry is 7-8 months. Young reptiles spend most time in trees, where they are relatively protected from predators, including adult monitor lizards.

Natural enemies of Komodo dragons

In the natural environment, the monitor lizard has no enemies and competitors. The length and weight of the lizard makes it almost invulnerable. The only and unsurpassed enemy of a monitor lizard can only be another monitor lizard.

Cannibal lizards. As observations of the life of a reptile have shown, 10% of the diet of the Komodo monitor lizard is its relatives. A giant lizard doesn't need a reason to kill to eat its own kind. Fights between goannas are not uncommon. They can start because of territorial claims, because of the female, and simply because the monitor lizard has not obtained other food. All clarification of relationships within the species ends in a bloody drama.

As a rule, older and more experienced monitor lizards attack younger and weaker ones. The same thing happens with newborn lizards. Little lizards can become food for their mothers. However, nature took care of the protection of monitor lizard cubs. The first few years of life, juvenile monitor lizards spend on trees, hiding from their stronger and stronger counterparts in appearance.

In addition to the lizard itself, it is threatened by two more serious enemies: natural disasters and humans. Earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions seriously affect the population of the Komodo monitor lizard. Disaster can destroy the population of a small island in a matter of hours.

Man has been mercilessly exterminating the dragon for almost a century. People from all over the world flocked to hunt the giant reptile. As a result, the animal population has been brought to a critical point.

Population and species status

Information on the population size and distribution of Varanus komodoensis has until recently been limited to early messages or by surveys carried out only in part of the range of the species. The Komodo dragon is a vulnerable species. Listed in the Red Book. The vulnerability of the species is due to poaching and tourism. The commercial interest in animal skins has put the species at risk of extinction.

Estimated World Fund animals, the number of Komodo monitor lizard in wild nature is 6000 lizards. The population is under protection and surveillance. To preserve the species in the Lesser Sunda Islands, a national park. Park staff can tell exactly how many lizards are in this moment on each of the 26 islands.

The largest colonies live on:

• Komodo -1700;
• Rinche -1300;
• Gili Motange-1000;
• Flores - 2000.

But not only people affect the state of the species. The habitat itself is a serious threat. Volcanic activity, earthquakes, fires make the traditional habitats of the lizard uninhabitable. In 2013 total strength the population in the wild was estimated at 3,222 individuals, in 2014 - 3,092, in 2015 - 3,014.

A number of measures taken to increase the population have increased the number of the species by almost 2 times, but according to experts, this figure is still critically small.

Protecting Komodo monitor lizards

People have taken a number of measures to protect and increase the species. It is legally prohibited to hunt the Komodo monitor lizard. Some islands are closed to the public. Territories protected from tourists are organized, where Komodo lizards can live and reproduce in their natural habitat and atmosphere.

Understanding the importance of dragons and the state of the population as an endangered species, the Indonesian government issued a decree on the protection of lizards on Komodo Island in 1915. The Indonesian authorities have decided to close the island to the public.

The island is part national park. Measures to isolate it will help increase the population of the species. However, the final decision on stopping the access of tourists to Komodo must be taken by the governor of the province of East Nusa Tenggara.

Authorities have not said how long Komodo will be closed to visitors and tourists. At the end of the isolation period, conclusions will be drawn about the effectiveness of the measure and the need to continue the experiment. In the meantime, unique monitor lizards are raised in captivity.

Zoologists have learned how to save the masonry of the Komodo dragon. Eggs laid in the wild are collected and placed in incubators. Ripening and rearing takes place on mini-farms, where conditions close to natural are created. Individuals that are strong and able to defend themselves are returned to natural environment a habitat. Currently, giant lizards have appeared outside of Indonesia. They can be found in more than 30 zoos around the world.

The threat of losing one of the most unique and rare animals is so great that the Indonesian government is ready to take the most extreme measures. Closing some of the islands in the archipelago may ease the fate of the Komodo dragon, but isolation is not enough. To save Indonesia's top predator from humans, it is necessary to protect its habitat, stop hunting it, and get the support of local residents.

A lizard is an animal that belongs to the class of reptiles (reptiles), the squamous order, the lizard suborder. In Latin, the suborder of the lizard is called Lacertilia, formerly the name was Sauria.

The reptile got its name from the word "lizard", which came from old Russian word"skor", meaning "skin".

The largest lizard in the world is the Komodo dragon

The smallest lizard in the world

The smallest lizards in the world are the Haraguan sphero (Sphaerodactylus ariasae) and the Virginian round-toed gecko (Sphaerodactylus parthenopion). The size of the babies does not exceed 16-19 mm, and the weight reaches 0.2 grams. These cute and harmless reptiles live in the Dominican Republic and on Virgin Islands.

Where do lizards live?

A variety of species of lizards live on all continents except Antarctica. Representatives of reptiles familiar to Russia are real lizards that live almost everywhere: they can be found in the fields, in the forest, in the steppes, gardens, in the mountains, deserts, near rivers and lakes. All types of lizards move perfectly on any surface, firmly clinging to all sorts of bulges and bumps. Rock species of lizards are excellent jumpers, the height of the jump of these mountain dwellers reaches 4 meters.

large predators, such as monitor lizard, hunt small animals - snakes, their own kind, and also eat eggs of birds and reptiles with pleasure. The monitor lizard from Komodo Island, the largest lizard in the world, attacks wild boar and even buffalo and deer. The Moloch lizard eats exclusively, while the pink-tongued skink eats only terrestrial molluscs. Some large iguana and skink lizards are almost entirely vegetarian, with a menu of ripe fruits, leaves, flowers, and plant pollen.

Lizards in nature are extremely cautious and agile, approaching the intended prey stealthily, and then attack with a swift jerk and capture the prey in their mouths.

Komodo monitor lizard eating buffalo

It turns out that in our time you can meet with the dragon. So the inhabitants of Komodo Island (in Indonesia) call the Komodo monitor lizard, which is the largest lizard in the world. This is not only a huge lizard, but also cruel predator, which instills fear in the islanders - the dragon can attack not only domestic animals, but also people, and children who are sitting or lying on the ground are especially vulnerable.

Excursion into history

The largest lizard in the world was first discovered by scientists at the beginning of the 20th century - descriptions of the dragon date back to 1912. It was at this time that the Komodo monitor lizard was found on Komodo Island. Actually, in the place of its habitat, the monitor lizard received the name Komodo. Scientists put forward a version that many thousands of years ago Komodo monitor lizards lived in Australia, and then moved to the islands located nearby. And today the dragon can be found not only on Komodo Island, but also on such islands: Flores, Ridge, Padar, Rincha. The number at the time of discovery of this species of lizards was not numerous, and today it is only decreasing. Therefore, due to the threat of extinction, Komodo monitor lizards are currently heavily protected and listed in the Red Book.

Description of the Komodo dragon

Adult monitor lizards can grow over 3 meters in length, and their weight can be up to 160 kg. However, such large individuals are not so common - as a rule, the length of these very big lizards in the world is 2 meters. Due to the huge size of the Komodo dragons, they have practically no enemies, however this applies to adult lizards, and small monitor lizards become a treat. birds of prey, snakes and even their relatives. Like any lizard, Komodo dragons have long tail. Their skin color is dark with small spots, but the young have a lighter color. These giant lizards have powerful jaws and are very sharp teeth because they are predators.

Only one huge head and an incredibly large toothy mouth, from which a long bifurcated tongue protrudes, can plunge any person into indescribable horror. Seeing this animal, you can imagine yourself in a completely different era, when there were a huge number of such creatures. It is amazing that in our time the Komodo dragon has retained its appearance almost unchanged.

Distinctive features of the Komodo dragon

The largest lizard in the world, despite its impressive size, can run very fast, however, over short distances. In addition, she knows how to swim and is even able to swim across to the island in the neighborhood. The Komodo dragon can perfectly get food from trees, while standing on its hind legs. Young individuals, on the other hand, perfectly climb trees and spend on them a large number of time. So young monitor lizards are saved from predators that can attack them.

Komodo dragons have excellent hearing. sharp eyesight but their main sense organ is the sense of smell. Dragons have two poison glands and deadly saliva, thanks to which they kill their victims and get their own food.

Lifestyle

Komodo dragons hide in burrows that they make themselves at night. They go hunting early in the morning. During the day, they also hide from the rays of the scorching sun. They are cold-blooded creatures, so they do not tolerate sharp temperature fluctuations. As a rule, Komodo giant lizards are loners. They live in groups only during the breeding season.

How do they hunt and what do they eat?

Komodo monitor lizards feed on both small and large animals (including domestic ones), mainly eat carrion. Also, dragons, being able to climb trees well, steal bird eggs. Adult individuals in a hungry year even eat their younger relatives. Thanks to their keen sense of smell, these lizards are able to smell blood at a distance of up to 5 km.

As a rule, monitor lizards hunt large prey from an ambush. Attacking her, they bite the animal and follow her in anticipation of her death. Moreover, the monitor lizard is more helped not by poisonous glands, as was previously thought, but by saliva containing a large number of pathogenic bacteria. It is these bacteria that, getting into the blood of the victim, lead to her inevitable death. As a result, the victim of the monitor lizard loses consciousness, and then dies.

The monitor lizard instead of injecting poison with one blow rubs it into the wound of the victim. This method of hunting has helped monitor lizards to exist for many millennia. With the help of a bifurcated tongue, the Komodo monitor lizard is able to smell carrion from afar and is more likely to rush to the feast, in which other of its relatives take part. Moreover, eating meat poisoned by its own saliva does not harm them at all, since monitor lizards have excellent immunity. And the substances released during the decomposition of the killed monitor lizard prey only enrich oral cavity giant lizard with deadly new bacteria.

Human danger

There have been cases when a Komodo monitor lizard attacked a person. The bite of this animal is very dangerous for humans, since the inflammatory process begins due to the influence of pathogenic bacteria. Especially monitor lizards can attack small children. However, it is believed that this is only when they confuse their usual food. However, after being bitten by this huge lizard it is important to contact immediately medical care, because the fatal outcome is 99 percent.

Not only living people suffer from Komodo monitor lizards, but also the dead - dragons dig up buried corpses and feed on them. Therefore, today the dead are buried under cast cement slabs.

Offspring

Male monitor lizards fight for their female every year. The monitor lizard that wins gets a female, who then lays 20 eggs. For eight months, she will ensure that no one eats the eggs, but the hatched young monitor lizards will be deprived of maternal care. They must take care of their own safety, so they often hide in trees or in shelters. Moreover, they often hide from representatives of their own species, who do not disdain young animals as their food.

The Komodo dragon is considered to be the largest lizard. This view was discovered by scientists who, as early as 1912, decided to fully explore the island called Komodo. They were surprised by the size of this creature, so they began to study it. They captured the largest lizards of this species with the help of local natives, and conducted careful research to understand how these monsters were able to survive to this day.

Studies have shown that these monsters belong to the species of ancient lizards, and are cold-blooded creatures. By external factors, scientists attributed this species of lizard to monitor lizards. Considering exactly where these reptiles were found, it is quite understandable why they decided to call them the Komodo monitor lizard.

Lizard sizes

It should be noted that the Komodo dragon can reach quite impressive sizes. The most mature individuals reach a mark of 2.8 meters. At the same time, their Weight Limit is about ninety kilograms. Thanks to these dimensions, the Kommodus monitor lizard is considered the largest and heaviest lizard on our entire planet. In the middle of 1937, at an exhibition of unique creatures, which was held in Missouri, a specimen of a lizard was presented, which reached more than three meters in length. Her weight was one hundred and sixty-six kilograms, which simply could not help but amaze the gray-haired people.

Appearance of the Lizard

By appearance The Komodo dragon resembles a cross between a lizard and a crocodile. He has a rather large mouth, which is simply strewn with sharp teeth. And thick paws and a massive tail really inspire fear in his rivals. In adult lizards, the skin has a dark color with a brown tint. And in younger individuals, the skin has a light shade with bright spots, which can sometimes smoothly turn into stripes.

It is worth noting that males can be larger than females, and they are also characterized by increased aggressiveness, which is very often shown in relation to other males who decide to enter their territory.

Lifestyle

Lizards are diurnal. Like other cold-blooded representatives of their kind, they love to soak up the sun. These huge reptiles live in burrows, the depth of which can sometimes reach five meters. They tear them out with their large paws and thick claws. They even feed on large animals such as deer and even buffaloes. From the bite of this lizard, the wound of the animal begins to rot, and subsequently it dies.