The Komodo Dragonby Alex Weber

Dragons are real?

● Komodo Dragons are part of the genus of carnivorous lizards called monitor lizards

● Scavengers and predators, and sometimes cannibals

● First discovered in 1910 on the island of Komodo in Indonesia

Wait!

Komodo Food Web

Where they live

The Animal Kingdom

Don’t Get Too Close

● Long sharp claws

● Powerful tail

● More than 60 serrated teeth

● Osteoderms: scales reinforced with bone

Life Cycle● Eggs incubate

for 8-9 months

● Young take to the trees until about age 2

● Adolescents reach full size by 9 years old

● Mating begins at about 6 years old

● Adults live about 30 years

Nervous System

VOMERONASALORGAN

TOUNGE

NERVEOLFACTORY BULB

● Sees color, but not very good vision

● Smells using tongue and vomeronasal organ

● Not very good hearing

● Osteoderms: sensors on scales connected to nervous system

Interesting Facts

● Can have babies without mating(Parthenogenesis)

● Very intelligentThey can even count!

● Debate continueswhether they have venom or bacteria cultures in their mouths.

Any Questions?