Komodo Dragons
By: Daniel Gallardo Period 8 5/16/2015
Habitat
Komodo Dragons live in tropical savanna forests, They can also be found on Beaches and hillsides. They are located on a group of volcanic islands in Indonesia and also Komodo Island.(Komodo Dragon)
Movement
Komodo Dragons usually don't move, They wait out their prey by hiding and then lash out when the prey is least suspecting. But when forced to chase, Komodo dragons are able to run up to 10 miles per hour in short intervals.(Welsbacher, 15)
Body Covering
Komodo Dragons have either brown or yellow scales. They have a yellow forked tongue. Their feet have claws that can grow up to 3 inches long! Their underbelly hangs very low to the ground. (Welsbacher, 9)
Diet
Komodo Dragons are predators. They hunt animals such as Deer, Wild Pigs, Goats, Rodents, other Dragons, large Water buffalo, and even in some cases Humans. They also eat dead animals flesh. This flesh is known as Carrion. (Komodo Dragon)
Reproduction
Komodo Dragons reproduce by Internal Fertilization. Female's lay their eggs in the sand of the islands. After about 8 months the eggs hatch and the hatchlings scamper up the nearest tree, in fear of being eaten by bigger dragons. (Komodo Dragons 1)
Adaptation
Komodo Dragons adapted using multiple strategies, such as, Baby Komodos learned that they needed to climb up trees for their survival and would stay up their for a year for protection from bigger Komodos. Also, Komodos learned they needed to stay out of sight, and using their advanced smell and sight, they would then capture and eat multitudes of animals using this strategy. (Welsbacher, 14)
Interesting Facts and Statistics
- Only about 3,000 to 5,000 Komodos live with 55 of those in captivity In zoo's. (Komodo Dragon)
- Komodos Jaws have special hinges allowing the Komodo to swallow multiple pieces of food whole, They never chew their food. (Komodo Dragon)
- Even though prey can easily escape from a Komodos grasp, A Komodos bite and saliva have over 50 types of bacteria, so the prey usually escapes but dies of blood poisoning later on. So as long as the Komodo can get at least one bite, It has itself a meal. (Komodo Dragon)
Work Cited
- Komodo Dragons 1
- "Komodo Dragons." SIRS Discoverer. N.p.: n.p., 2015. SIRS Discoverer. Web. 10 May
2016. <http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/
article?urn=urn:sirs:US;ARTICLE;ART;0000361456>.
- Komodo Dragons 2
- Sunquist, Fiona. "Komodo Dragons." Komodo Dragons: n. pag. SIRS Discoverer. Web.
11 May 2016. <http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/
article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000102261>.
- Lopata, Peg. "The Drooling Dragon of Komodo Island." The Drooling Dragon of
Komodo Island June 2009: n. pag. SIRS DiscovererSirs. Web. 13 May 2016.
<http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/
article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000295639>.
- "Komodo Dragon." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2016.
<http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/komodo-dragon/>.