|
THE DRAGONS OF KOMODO
On a few small indonesian islands lives
a lizard so large that it is called a dragon!. The Komodo
Dragon is found only on the islands of Komodo, Rinca,Gili
Motang,Gili Dasami and Flores. (Until the late 1970s
it was also found on Padar.) The largest known specimen
was nearly 10 and half foot long and weighed 365 Pounds!
Life Cycle The female dragon lays her eggs in a
depression, often on the slope of a hill. The hatchilings
are quite small less that an foot and half long and weigh
only a few ounces. The infant dragons feed at first on
insects and small animals, they have a perilous existence
and will be eaten by larger members of their own race
if they are encountered. If they reach the age of 5 years
they will be around six foot long and weigh around 55
pounds, but his time they will be eating animals as big
as Monkeys, Goats, Boars and their favourite, the Rusa
Deer. Adult dragons have been known to kill and devour
people, although this is very rare.
The Komodo Dragon has a very good sense
of smell, its vision is adequate but it has a limited
powere of hearing. It lies in wait for its prey. When
a suitable victim approaches it attacks with brute force
smashing its target to the ground and ripping it appart
with its viciously powerful teeth. The bite is not actually
venomous but the mouth of the dragon is full of dangerous
bacteria which invariably turn the slightest wound that
they make septic. A Deer that escapes with just one
bite will probably be dead of septic blood poisoning
within a week.
Why is it so large? Lizards are cold-blooded and
require less food than mamalian predators. On small islands
it is easier for them to become large animals despite
the shortage of suitable prey. The most interesting theory
comes from the discovery of fossilised Pygmy Elephant
bones on one of the islands. Scientists have suggested
that the Dragons large size arose from them needing the
brute force to overpower these 5 foot elephants. |
