Varanus komodoensis
Komodo Island monitor
(Also: Komodo dragon)

Varanus komodoensis is found only in the lesser Sunda region of the Indonesian archipelago, including the islands of Komodo, Flores, Rinca, and Padar. ("Komodo Dragon", 2005; De Lisle, 1996)

Adult Komodo dragons live mainly in tropical savannah forests. They prefer open lowland areas with tall grasses and bushes, but are also found in other habitats, such as beaches, ridge tops, and dry riverbeds. Young Komodo dragons are arboreal and live in forested regions until they are eight months old. ("Komodo Dragon", 2005; De Lisle, 1996; Wikramanayake, 1997)

Komodo dragons are the largest lizards, reaching 165 kg and greater than three meters in length. Juveniles are green with yellow and black bands. Adults dull and uniform in color, from brown to grayish red. Their robust bodies are uniformly covered in rough scales. They have strong limbs and a powerful, muscular tail. The heads of Komodo dragons have a rounded snout and ear openings. Their skulls are flexible and have sharp, serrated teeth. Although males tend to grow larger, there are no obvious morphological differences between the sexes. ("Komodo Dragon", 2005; Cogger and Zweifel, 1992; De Lisle, 1996)

Varanus komodoensis hatches from eggs. Young Komodo dragons live in trees to avoid falling prey to older members of the species. They are also much smaller and more sinuous than the adults, allowing them to live in trees. At 8 months, they grow too large to be arboreal, alter their diet, and become terrestrial. ("Komodo Dragon", 2005; Murphy et al., 2002)

Although many Varanus komodoensis individuals fall prey to other animals as hatchlings, ones that live to adulthood usually have a lifespan of around 50 years. (Cogger and Zweifel, 1992)

Komodo dragons spend the day roaming their home ranges, which can be as large as 1.9 square kilometers. They do not defend these home ranges, so ranges can overlap, but if food is found in a shared area, the dominant dragon gets to eat first. When food is found, the largest males are always first to eat, followed by smaller males and females, and then by juveniles who descend from the trees to eat once the adults have left. Varanus komodoensis often scavenges for food, but individuals can also run quickly and hunt stealthily and powerfully, smashing its prey to the ground and tearing it with its claws and teeth. Their saliva contains more than 50 different strains of bacteria that can result in the death of prey from infection even after only being bitten. Varanus komodoensis digs burrows that it retreats into at night and when the weather is very hot. ("Komodo Dragon", 2005; "Lizards, Worm Lizards - Sauria, and Amphisbaenia", 1991; Cogger and Zweifel, 1992; De Lisle, 1996)

Home Range

The home range of Komodo dragons approximately 1.9 km^2 in size. ("Komodo Dragon", 2005; "Lizards, Worm Lizards - Sauria, and Amphisbaenia", 1991; Cogger and Zweifel, 1992; De Lisle, 1996)

Although Varanus komodoensis can see 300 meters away and can hear a restricted range of sound, its sense of smell is its primary method for detecting food and the tip of its tongue is its primary scent detector. Males communicate dominance in mating and feeding order by wrestling in upright positions. Females give off a scent in their feces to communicate that they are ready to mate and the male replies by rubbing his chin on her and licking her body. ("Komodo Dragon", 2005; "Lizards, Worm Lizards - Sauria, and Amphisbaenia", 1991; Murphy et al., 2002)

A normal adult Komodo dragon diet consists mainly of carrion, but it is not uncommon for them to attack and eat a variety of large prey, including goats, pigs, deer, wild boar, horses, water buffalo, and smaller Komodo dragons. Komodo dragons hunt larger prey by ambushing them and delivering a bite. They then follow the injured animal until they succumb to either blood loss or infection. The saliva of Komodo dragons is rich in bacteria that rapidly leads to infection in their prey. A recent discovery of venom in the bites of Varanus species implies that venoms may be used in subduing prey also, although specific research on Komodo dragon venom action has not been completed. Juveniles feed on grasshoppers, beetles, small geckos, eggs, birds, and eventually small mammals. Varanus komodoensis is able to swallow large pieces of food by expanding its throat and its flexible skull. They eat most of their prey, leaving very little to be wasted. ("Komodo Dragon", 2005; "Lizards, Worm Lizards - Sauria, and Amphisbaenia", 1991; Cogger and Zweifel, 1992; Fry, Vidal, and Norman, 2006)

Adult Komodo dragons are at the top of their food chain and do not have any predators. Juveniles often fall prey to adults, larger mammals, and birds. They avoid predation by being arboreal until they become larger. ("Komodo Dragon", 2005; De Lisle, 1996)

Varanus komodoensis is a top predator in its habitat and one of the largest animals present in the area. It is also a scavenger that eats recently dead animals and removes them from the landscape. ("Komodo Dragon", 2005; "Lizards, Worm Lizards - Sauria, and Amphisbaenia", 1991)

Varanus komodoensis individuals have been known to attack and kill humans in a few rare occurrences. They also have attacked and harmed livestock in the area. (Cogger and Zweifel, 1992; Wikramanayake, 1997)

Komodo dragons are an important ecotourism draw. Scientists are also conducting studies on how they are able have strains of lethal bacteria living in their saliva without being affected by them.

Komodo dragons are currently classified as endangered throughout their range. This status is the result of a combination of prey depletion, poaching, and habitat encroachment by humans. (Cogger and Zweifel, 1992; Cohn, 1994; Murphy et al., 2002)