Komodo dragons have thrived in the harsh climate of the Indonesian Islands for millions of years. Fossils, from 50,000 years ago, show they used to live in Australia once upon a time! Due to the increasing threats of habitat destruction, poaching and natural disasters, these dragons are considered a vulnerable species.
Now confined to just a few small Indonesian islands, fossil finds from Queensland tell us that the Komodo dragon once called Australia home. While here, the dragons interbred with a type of sand monitor most similar to a goanna.
Komodo dragons are limited to a few Indonesian islands of the Lesser Sunda group, including Rintja, Padar and Flores, and of course the island of Komodo, the largest at 22 miles (35 kilometers) long.
Some Giant Komodo Dragons have also been spotted in Europe, but they cannot live there for long because the climate is too cold! Although they prefer the tropical forests, they can be seen all across the islands. Giant Komodo Dragons have lived in the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia for millions of years.
"We can assume that the komodo may have kicked along in Australia right up until human arrival. There's no reason to assume not." "Perhaps humans were the cause of their extinction; perhaps it was climate change, perhaps a combination of both.
Description: The Perentie is Australia's largest lizard. Its body is rich brown with large cream or yellow markings. It has a forked tongue and numerous very sharp, slightly curved teeth. The Perentie also has a strong tail and powerful legs with five, clawed toes.
After overseeing the potentially dangerous mating process for both dragon and keeper, seven months of incubation and finally the hatching of the eggs – the Australian Reptile Park has become the first zoo in Australia to successfully breed and hatch Komodo dragons.
An attack from a Komodo dragon can be fatal—even to humans. Compared to crocodilians and other reptiles, Komodo dragons have relatively weak bite strength. Instead, they rely on their sharp, curved teeth and long, sturdy claws to slash and tear at their prey with astonishing force.
The Komodo dragon is a living dinosaur and the world's largest lizard. Komodo dragons can grow up to 3-4 metres in length and weigh over 100kg. Found on the Indonesian island of Komodo, there is a stable population of about 3,000 to 5,000 Komodo dragons in the wild.
A lion would win a fight against a Komodo dragon. Lions are larger and heavier and have something that the Komodo dragon lacks: the ability to kill their enemy with a single blow.
What Eats It? Adults are top predators but juvenile dragons are preyed upon by adult dragons, feral dogs, wild boars, civet cats and snakes. Komodo dragons are solitary animal except during breeding although groups of dragons may gather to feed at a kill.
Unlike most lizard species, Komodo dragons are aggressive and may track even when unprovoked. Some Komodo dragon attacks have left villagers with deep bite wounds and some others dead. Both in captivity and the wild, the Komodo National Park has gathered 24 reported attacks from 1974 to 2012.
Called the Komodo dragon, it can reach 10 feet in length. These giant lizards often weigh more than 300 pounds. Where can you see a Komodo dragon? They live on the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Gila Motang, Rinca, and Flores.
Australia Zoo is the only zoo in Queensland where you can get up close with a Komodo dragon!
One of Australia's largest lizards, the carnivorous tree-dwelling lace monitor, or tree goanna, can grow to 2m in length and is found in forests and coastal tablelands across eastern Australia. These Australian animals are typically dark blue in colour with whitish spots or blotches.
Komodo (Indonesian: Pulau Komodo) is one of the 17,508 islands that comprise the Republic of Indonesia.
Attacks on humans are rare, but Komodo dragons have been responsible for several human fatalities, in both the wild and in captivity. According to data from Komodo National Park spanning a 38-year period between 1974 and 2012, there were 24 reported attacks on humans, five of them fatal.
Megalania possibly shares a sister-taxon relationship with the modern Komodo Dragon, though its closest living relative is the Lace Monitor. Like these relatives, it's likely Megalania was a venomous animal, and if that's the case it's the largest venomous vertebrate to ever live.
Humans can outrun a komodo dragon by outmaneuvering and tiring it. Komodo dragons can run at high speeds, but only for a short period of time. Outrunning a komodo dragon is possible, but you have to be quick on your feet.
In the 34 years leading up to 2012, the administration of the National Park recorded 24 attacks by Komodo dragons in Indonesia, with just 5 of these being fatal. That makes an average of less than one human killed by a Komodo dragon every six years.
The Komodo dragon venom consists of a few kinds of toxic proteins, and causes exactly the effect we've seen from dragon bites: rapid blood loss, inhibition of clotting, paralysis, and extreme pain.
Iguanas are not native to Australia and have the potential to become a pest if they escape or are released into the wild. Iguanas can carry salmonella and exotic diseases that could harm our native reptiles. Early detection and reporting helps protect Queensland's natural environment.
But when the dragons found themselves separated from their home island by a thin stretch of ocean, only a quick swim away, they settled in. The water itself isn't the problem, since Komodo dragons can swim pretty well.