Do monitor lizards eat people. The giant Komodo dragon is the largest lizard in the world. Why is it listed in the Red Book
komodo dragon - the largest lizard in the world! It is also called the Indonesian monitor lizard, and some individuals are simply amazing in their size. monitor lizard can reach a length of 3 meters and a weight of 80-85 kg. One such representative is listed in the Guinness Red Book, weighing 91.7 kg from Komodo Island. Where does this huge lizard live and what does it eat in nature? How long can live? This is what we will talk about today, let's start with the life expectancy of a monitor lizard.
How long does a Komodo dragon live?
Komodo dragons, as a rule, lead a solitary lifestyle, they can unite in a small group during the breeding season or on the hunt. Their activity falls on the daytime, but they can stay awake at night. Huge to hunt lizard goes out during the day, and in hot weather to be in the shade. They spend the night in their shelter, and in the morning they go hunting again.
How many years can a Komodo dragon live?
Komodo dragon in nature can live about 50 years old. It is also recorded that one of the representatives lived for 62 years! By the way, interesting fact is a feature that the female lives 2 times less, i.e. female lifespan averages 25 years.
Where does the Komodo dragon live?
Komodo dragon can be found on the Indonesian islands: Gili Motang, Komodo, Flores, Rinch. The inhabitants of the island call it a land crocodile. The facts show that monitor lizard appeared more than 40 million years ago in Asia, then in Australia. And 15 million years ago it was discovered on the island of Timor, between Australia and Southwest Asia. Varan lives in areas well warmed by the sun, for example, in tropical forests, arid plains, savannas. In the hot period, is located near the dry riverbeds, hunts in the water, and is an excellent swimmer. Komodo dragon color dark brown with small yellow spots over the body. On the hide small osteoderms (secondary skin ossification). monitor lizard teeth pressed from the sides, they have sharp cutting edges, which allows you to open big booty. Likewise, on paws you can see long claws that help to hunt.
NUTRITION AND INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT KOMODOS
What does Komodo dragon eat?
Juveniles feed on snakes, birds, civets. They have no enemies as such in nature, except for humans, their relatives and combed crocodiles. Same way, komodo dragon willingly feeds on insects, fish, rats, sea turtles, lizards, livestock, cats and dogs, baby crocodiles. More large individuals in 50 kg they hunt deer, wild boars. Scientists have proven that not only sharp teeth and long claws help in hunting, how much poison is in the mouth lizards and bacteria that cause a rapid inflammatory process in the victim.
Interesting facts about the Komodo dragon
1. Long and forked tongue allows you to capture the scent of the victim
2.monitor lizard bites the victim and waits for it to die from blood poisoning
3. At one time, vanan can eat 80% of its own weight
4. Mating monitor lizards occurs from May to August, the female can lay about 30 eggs
5.monitor lizards have excellent eyesight, can see prey at a distance of 300 meters
6. After eating at monitor lizard the belly grows
7. komodo dragon it feeds not only on living creatures, but also on the skin of the victim, its bones and even hooves.
VIDEO: KOMODOS LIMIT
IN THIS VIDEO YOU WILL SEE WHAT THE KOMODOS LION LOOKS LOOKING AND LEARN A LOT OF INTERESTING ABOUT ITS LIFE IN THE WILD
Komodo Island is located in the heart of the Indonesian archipelago. This is the habitat of the unique and most large lizards in the world - Komodo dragons.
We are in Indonesia. Komodo Island is relatively small, its area is about 390 sq. km. Almost the entire territory is occupied by national park Komodo, created in 1980 to protect Komodo monitor lizards. The coastline seems to be indented by rocky capes, clearly of volcanic origin:
The nature here is unique. Arid savannah extends almost throughout the entire territory.
You can get here from the island of Bali on such tourist devices:
In general, Komodo is an island often visited by cruise ships from all over the world:
It is necessary to get here because of this unique miracle of nature - the Komodo dragon! This terrifying, deadly dangerous monitor lizard lives on the island. This is his home.
So, komodo dragons- giant lizards, reaching a length of 3 meters and weighing up to 150 kg! The natural lifespan of monitor lizards in nature is probably around 50 years.
Pretty boy. Komodo dragons feed on a wide variety of animals. Fish are their prey sea turtles, wild boar, buffalo, deer and reptiles. Also, repeated cases of attacks on a person were recorded.
At first glance, these lizards seem very clumsy and unhurried. However, when running over short distances, the monitor lizard is able to reach speeds of up to 20 km / h. They hunt relatively large prey from an ambush, sometimes knocking the victim down with blows from a powerful tail, often breaking her legs in the process.
The lizards are at the top the food chain islands. And this is their victim - a deer:
Reptiles do not have poisonous teeth, but their bite is most often fatal. Having tracked down a deer, wild boar or other large prey in the bushes, the monitor lizard attacks and seeks to inflict a laceration on the animal, into which a lot of bacteria from the oral cavity is introduced. As a result of such an attack, blood poisoning occurs in the victim, the animal gradually weakens and dies after a while. The dragons of Komodo Island can only follow the victim and wait until he dies.
Tourists and monitor lizards are separated neither by a fence with barbed wire, nor by any moat, nothing to inspire confidence in safety. Groups of tourists are usually accompanied by rangers, armed with long poles with a forked end to protect themselves from possible dragon attacks.
Monitor lizards use burrows 1-5 meters long as shelters, which they dig with their powerful paws with claws.
Komodo dragons are less dangerous to humans than crocodiles or sharks. However, the number of deaths due to untimely medical assistance after bites (and, as a result, blood poisoning) reaches 99%!
To get food at a height, the monitor lizard can stand on its hind legs, using its tail as a support. Komodo dragons are good climbers and spend a lot of time in trees.
About 1,700 monitor lizards live on Komodo Island. On the neighboring island of Rinca - about 1,200 individuals. According to scientists, Australia should be considered the birthplace of Komodo monitor lizards.
Cannibalism is common among Komodo monitor lizards: adult lizards often eat smaller individuals. Therefore, as soon as the cubs are born, they immediately instinctively climb a tree, looking for shelter there.
The Komodo monitor lizard is an amazing and truly unique animal, which is not without reason called a dragon. The largest lizard in existence today most time hunting. It is the object of pride of the islanders and the ongoing interest of tourists.
Our article will tell about the life of this dangerous predator, features of its behavior and characteristics characteristic of the species.
Appearance
The photos of Komodo monitor lizards given in our article help to understand why the locals called this reptile a land crocodile. These animals are really comparable in size.
Most adult Komodo monitor lizards reach 2.5 meters in length, while their weight barely exceeds half a centner. But even among the giants there are champions. There is reliable information about the Komodo dragon, the length of which exceeded 3 meters, and the weight reached 150 kg.
Only a specialist can visually distinguish a male from a female. Sexual dimorphism is practically not expressed, but male monitor lizards are usually slightly more massive. But to determine which of the two monitor lizards is older, any tourist who arrived on the island for the first time will be able to: the young are always colored brighter. In addition, with age, folds and leathery growths form on dull skin.
The body of the monitor lizard is squat, stocky, with very powerful limbs. The tail is mobile and strong. Paws are crowned with huge claws.
The huge mouth looks menacing, even when the monitor lizard is calm. The nimble forked tongue, which now and then emerges from it, is called creepy and frightening by many eyewitnesses.
Story
Giant monitor lizards on Komodo Island were first discovered in the early twentieth century. Since then, scientists have continued to study the species.
It has been established that the history of the development and evolution of monitor lizards is associated with Australia. The species diverged from its historical ancestor about 40 million years ago, then migrated to the remote mainland and nearby islands.
Later, the population shifted to the islands of Indonesia. Perhaps this is related to natural phenomena or a decline in populations of species of nutritional interest to monitor lizards. In any case, the fauna of Australia only benefited from such a resettlement - many species literally escaped extinction. But the Indonesian ones were not lucky: many scientists associate their extinction precisely with the predators of the genus Varanus.
Modernity has successfully mastered new territories and feels great.
Behavioral Features
Monitor lizards are diurnal and prefer to sleep at night. Like the rest of the cold-blooded, they are sensitive to temperature extremes. The hunting time comes at dawn. Leading solitary monitor lizards are not averse to join forces while chasing game.
It may seem that Komodo dragons are clumsy fat people, but this is far from the case. These animals are unusually hardy, mobile and strong. They are able to reach speeds of up to 20 km / h, and during their run, as they say, the earth trembles. Dragons feel no less confident in the water: it is not a problem for them to swim to the neighboring island. Sharp nails, strong musculature and a balancer tail help these animals to climb trees and steep rocks perfectly. Needless to say, how difficult it is to escape from the monitor lizard to the victim on whom he laid eyes?
dragon life
Adult Komodo monitor lizards live separately from each other. But once a year the flock converges. The period of love and creation of families begins with bloody battles in which it is impossible to simply lose. The fight can end either in victory or death from wounds.
No other animal is dangerous for the monitor lizard. AT natural environment habitats these animals do not know anyone stronger than themselves. People don't hunt them either. Only another dragon can kill a dragon.
Titan mating games
The victorious monitor lizard can choose a girlfriend with whom he will have kids. The couple will build a nest, the female will guard the eggs for about eight months, which can be encroached upon by small nocturnal predators. By the way, relatives are also not averse to enjoying such a delicacy. But as soon as the babies are born, the mother will leave them. They will have to survive on their own, relying only on the ability to disguise themselves and run.
Monitor lizards do not form permanent pairs. The next mating season will start from scratch - that is, with new battles in which more than one dragon will die.
Komodo monitor lizard on the hunt
This animal is a real killing machine. Komodo islands can even attack those who are much larger than them in size, such as buffaloes. After the death of the victim, a feast begins. Monitor lizards eat the carcass, tearing off and swallowing huge pieces.
It is noteworthy that most predators prefer one thing - either fresh meat or carrion. Digestive system monitor lizard is able to cope with both. Giants gladly feast on the carcasses brought by the sea.
Killer Poison
Powerful jaws, musculature and claws are not the monitor lizard's only weapons. The real gem of the arsenal can be called a unique saliva. It contains not only huge doses (probably obtained by eating carrion), but also poison.
For a long time, scientists were sure that the death of a bitten victim comes from banal sepsis. But recently the presence of poisonous glands has been established. The amount of poison is small, causing instant death only in small animals. But the received dose is enough to start irreversible processes.
Monitor lizards are not only excellent tacticians, but also delightful strategists. They know how to wait, sometimes hanging around near the victim for 2-3 weeks and watching how she slowly dies.
coexistence with man
A natural question arises as to whether the Komodo monitor lizard can kill a woman, a man or a teenager? The answer, unfortunately, is yes. The lethality of a lizard bite exceeds 90%. The poison is especially dangerous for a child.
But modern medicine has an antidote. Therefore, in case of an unsuccessful attempt to make friends with a monitor lizard, you should immediately go to the hospital. The death of a person from a bite in our time is not such a common occurrence. As a rule, it occurs if a person hopes that he will be able to cope with an indisposition. Doctors strongly recommend not to take risks, human immunity is not designed for such loads as the poison of an exotic lizard.
This should be remembered not only by tourists, but also by those who decide to settle unusual pet at home. In the intensive care unit of the district hospital, there may simply not be the necessary antidote, so prior consultation with a competent breeder is essential.
Monitor lizards in the reserve
No matter how sad it may sound, the formidable predator takes its place in the Red Book. Monitor lizards are protected at the state level. But the islands of Komodo, Flores, Gili Motang and Rincha have created huge reserves in which the giants live for their own pleasure. Despite the security and the work of a team of professionals, cases of attacks on people are sometimes recorded. Often this is due to excessive human attention to eating or fighting predators. Camera flash or noise can provoke an attack.
Therefore, if you set out to admire the Komodo monitor lizards, follow the rules of the reserve and listen to the instructor's advice.
The Komodo dragon is sometimes called the Komodo dragon, and for good reason. This prehistoric predator its appearance and size really reminds us of mythical dragons. The Komodo dragon is one of the largest living reptiles and is the largest modern lizard. The massive body of this monster can reach more than 3 meters, but most often its length is 2-3 meters. These monitor lizards usually weigh about 80 kg, but can be much heavier - about 165 kg.
This dinosaur of our days is armed very impressively. Its skull averages about 21 cm in length, and in its huge mouth are many large teeth with jagged edges that are flattened laterally and curved back. Each tooth is a kind of carving knife. With such teeth, the animal can easily pull out pieces of meat from its prey. The monitor lizard does not have chewing teeth, all its teeth are of the same conical shape, so it practically does not chew, and tearing off pieces of meat, it simply swallows them. The structure of the skull and pharynx allows this reptile to swallow very large pieces.
In addition to terrifying teeth, the Komodo monitor lizard is armed with long hook-shaped claws and a truly terrible tail. A blow from such a tail can knock an adult off his feet and inflict severe injuries on him. When monitor lizards fight among themselves, for example, because of prey or a female, they stand on their hind legs, clasping each other with their paws and inflicting bites on each other, while trying to overcome the opponent. Although, I must say that they rarely fight over prey. On the island Komodo monitor lizards specially fed for the amusement of tourists. A few monitor lizards can safely devour a deer carcass. These huge lizards do not attack people, but they potentially pose a serious danger. Reliable cases of attacks of these reptiles on humans are known. Not only is the bite of a Komodo monitor lizard extremely dangerous in itself, it has a lot of microbes in its mouth that can cause blood poisoning.
In addition to the Komodo Island itself, which is lost among the many islands of the Indonesian archipelago, the Komodo monitor lizard lives on the islands of Flores, Rinja and Padar. All these islands are quite small, hardly visible on the map. And the Komodo dragon is not found anywhere else in the world, so this species protected by law. It would be a real crime if this reptile, which has come down to us from the depths of many millions of years, disappears from the face of the earth now, in the 21st century of our era.
Throughout its habitat, the Komodo monitor lizard is the dominant predator. None of the animals living side by side with him can compare with him in strength. The basis of the diet of the giant monitor lizard is deer and wild pigs. In addition, he eats other, smaller animals, as well as carrion.
Monitor lizards search for prey with the help of vision, as well as their unusual language. With its forked tongue, the monitor lizard perceives the smallest odor particles left by the victim, and analyzes them with the help of the Jacobson organ, which communicates with oral cavity. Having found its prey, the monitor lizard sneaks up to it at a suitable distance, and then makes a swift throw. Despite the clumsy appearance, the Komodo monitor lizard is able to develop an unexpected, for such huge lizard, speed. In principle, a Komodo monitor lizard can catch up with a person, although much depends on the person himself - how fast he runs.
Mating of Komodo monitor lizards occurs, as a rule, in July and is accompanied by fierce battles between males. In August, the female lays more than two dozen eggs, which are usually buried in the ground, or hidden in a hole. After about 8-8.5 months, babies hatch from the eggs, which grow very quickly. They are very shy and flee at the slightest danger. Unlike adults, lizards are great at climbing trees and escaping, often climbing them. Young monitor lizards are colored brighter than adults. Over the years, they acquire a darker, greenish-brown color. The life expectancy of the Komodo dragon is about 50 years.
In captivity, Komodo monitor lizards quite easily get used to humans and become tame. It seems to me that monitor lizards are the most highly developed reptiles, after crocodiles. There are cases when tame monitor lizards responded to their nickname.
Classification:
Class: Reptilia (reptiles, or reptiles)
Order: Squamata (scaly)
Suborder: Lacertilia (lizards)
Family: Varanidae (monitors)
Genus: Varanus (lizards)
Species: Varanus komodoensis (Komodo dragon)
Photo.