Komodo dragon is the world's largest giant lizard
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| Komodo Dragon |
Welcome to Indonesia, a country with a million natural beauties that will make you interested in coming to Indonesia.
Did you know that Indonesia has one type of rare animal that only exists in Indonesia? And became the only largest reptile animal in the world that is still alive today.
Well, the animal is Komodo, which is one of the icons from Indonesia that is able to give pride to our nation.
Then, what kind of Komodo animal is it? and how big is the rare reptile that is the single largest reptile in the world? Here I will give an explanation.
Komodo habitat
Komodo dragons have a Latin name (Varanus komodoensis) which is a rare and endangered ancient species. The Komodo dragon's habitat is on the island of Komodo, Komodo District, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia.
These large animals usually live in areas suitable for their needs. Komodo dragon habitat should have a temperature between 23-40°C with humidity around 45-75%.
In terms of altitude, the Komodo dragon's habitat is usually in an area that has an altitude between 0 to 600 MDPL with a slope of 10-40°. Komodo dragons generally live in savanna with palm trees as their trademark.
Facts About Komodo
1. Have a deadly venom
Komodo dragons also have a deadly venom like a snake. Komodo dragon saliva is known to be able to kill other fairly large animals such as buffalo, deer, sheep and also pigs with one bite.
Komodo dragons usually store their saliva in the poison glands in the lower jaw. Komodo dragon poison will usually spread through wounds, which will make the prey paralyzed and then die.
2. Komodo dragons can become cannibals
Komodo dragons are carnivores or meat eaters. Komodo dragons are also not friendly animals, because when they are hungry, these animals can attack anyone, even dragons can become other eaters in order to survive.
Adult Komodo dragons can attack small Komodo dragons or even prey on their own children when they are hungry. So it's not surprising, many baby Komodo dragons run and hide from their mothers so they don't get eaten.
3. Have a Unique Local Name
Komodo dragons also have unique local names. Local people refer to the Komodo dragon as "Ora" which means land crocodile.
These animals are already accustomed to living side by side with humans in their natural habitat. However, this animal was only known to many people in 1912 after a Dutch soldier shot this animal and sent a sample of its skin to a researcher named Peter Ouwens.
Komodo dragon population
Every year the population of Komodo dragons has increased, this is due to the conservation of this type of animal. This is done as an effort to preserve the Komodo dragon so that it does not experience extinction.
Even so, one thing that needs to be considered is that it is very important to maintain the habit of Komodo dragons to remain as wild animals. Although many tourists come to see Komodo dragons, they are advised to see from afar, and are prohibited from interacting directly with these animals.
Female Komodo dragons can only breed when they are 7 years old, while male Komodo dragons are 8 years old. The reproductive season in these animals lasts from July to August.
Female Komodo dragons can produce between 15-30 eggs each year. The average size of a Komodo dragon's egg is 8.6 cm with a diameter of about 5.9 cm. The size of a Komodo dragon's egg is the size of a goose egg, and it takes 8-9 months to hatch.
When the baby komodo dragons have hatched, the young komodo dragons will spend their time on trees to avoid attacks by adult komodo dragons and other predatory animals.
Komodo dragon's main prey
Komodo dragons are a type of carnivorous animal. When eating prey, Komodo dragons will tear and cut large prey meat, then eat it whole.
After the prey is digested, the Komodo dragon will vomit the remnants of its food in the form of horns, hair and teeth of its prey in the form of slimy lumps.
These animals can also last several weeks without eating. They can survive by eating only once a month.
In the wild, Komodo dragons usually prey on deer and long-tailed monkeys as their main prey. To immobilize their prey, Komodo dragons use their teeth and saliva as their main weapons for hunting. Komodo dragon's saliva itself has a poison that can kill its prey in one bite.