Komodo dragon, despite its name, is unlikely to fit into your home dresser.It is the largest lizard on earth - Komodo dragon or Indonesian lizard that looks more similar to their relatives - the extinct dinosaurs.
Varan Komodo dwells on some islands of Indonesia - in particular, the Komodo (hence the name), Gili Motang, Flores and Rinke.Scientists believe that this is the most ancient amphibious reptile that appeared simultaneously with the dinosaurs and was able to go through all the world's disasters.
average individual Komodo dragon weighs about 90 kg and grows to a length of 2.5 meters.And the parameters of the largest officially recorded instance of 160 kg body weight at a length of more than 3 meters.
Komodo dragon look like a cross between a lizard, crocodile and dinosaur.Locals call this land reptile crocodile.
Painting lizards have color resembles clay - it is brown-brown, with dirty yellow patches, giving excellent opportunities for concealment.
Komodo dragon, though it is considered a lizard, is not a harmless herbivores.He has great tools for the attack - the tail and teeth.
tail is almost half the length of the animal's body.There are deposited fat reserves that monitor spending in lean periods.And with the help of the tail of the animal attacking its prey while hunting, beating and breaking her leg.
have this giant lizard more than 60 teeth, flattened on the sides, sharp and jagged, and the structure of the jaw like a shark's mouth.Language such as a snake - long, bifurcated at one end.For it is secreted by the body smell and the scent of these animals is impressive: they can distinguish the smell of blood at a distance of 5 km.
Komodo dragon eats just any livestock and any carrion: insects, rodents, birds, buffalo, deer and even a weaker brethren.Yes, among the giant lizards cannibalism it is very common.Perhaps that is why newborns varanchiki hurry to escape from his mother in the dense foliage of the trees.
Hungry Komodo dragon is a danger even for a man - were cases of attacks on tourists.The lizard is not afraid to attack the victim, his equal in weight class and often wins.During bite into the body of the victim get dangerous bacteria from the mouth and poison from the venom glands secreted by the mandibular.Under the influence of the poison the body potential prey gradually weakened, it loses a lot of blood, and flows into a state of shock.Lizard can only patiently pursue the victim and wait for the right moment.
night Komodo dragon is very fast asleep.This allows scientists to carefully approach the animal and fix them on the body of necessary sensors and thermometers for the study.Thanks to the device has been found that the temperature of lizards has a fantastic drop 20 degrees between heating and cooling the body during the day at night.
Komodo dragon, like other reptiles, are excellent swimmers.
natural enemies other than their own brethren, have giant lizards there, so they can live about 50 years.However, the population size is very small lizards: on the Indonesian island there are only about 5,000 individuals.Nowhere else these animals can not live, and in captivity often do not grow and die.Therefore, the Indonesian government set up a special reserve on the islands - Komodo National Park, where the lizards are looked after and protected.For entertainment, visitors can participate in feeding the giant lizards.Of course, this happens only under the supervision of trained rangers, armed with a long pole for protection to a group of tourists she did not become dinner for hungry lizards.
