The largest lizard in the world. Interesting facts about lizards

Do you believe in the existence of dragons? If not, then please read our article. Perhaps it will shake your confidence. Indeed, in fact, on the distant island of Komodo, there is such a large lizard that the locals with confidence call it the dragon. And not only local. The name "Komodsky dragon" is scientific, it is used by professionals.

About how the world's largest lizards live, you'll learn from our material.

Historical reference

For the first time these giants were discovered in 1912 on the island of Komodo. It is easy to guess what is connected with this, what is called a large lizard.

Since then, these creatures are the object of scientific research. Scientists have determined that the history of the evolution of this species is associated with Australia. From the historical ancestor, the genus Varanus separated about 40 million years ago and emigrated to this remote mainland. For a time, the giants lived in Australia and nearby islands. Later, for various reasons, the lizards were pushed back to the islands of Indonesia, where they settled. Scientists suggest that this is due to a change in the relief and seismic activity. The island of Komodo, by the way, also has a volcanic origin. It is worth noting that the migration of bloodthirsty giants to the islands has saved many representatives of the Australian fauna from total extermination. The big lizard has mastered new territories and dominates there until now.

Appearance

What sizes can the Komodo monitor reach? It is difficult to imagine, but the Komodo dragon lizard is comparable in size to the young crocodile.

Scientists have measured in a sample of 12 individuals and described their external features. The investigated lizards reached a length of 2.25-2.6 meters, and their weight was 25-59 kilograms. But these indicators are average. A number of much more outstanding cases have been documented and described. The length of some lizards reaches 3 and even more meters, and the largest of known specimens weighed more than one and a half centners.

The skin of the monitor is dark green, rough, often covered with small yellowish spots and leathery spiky outgrowths. These animals have a powerful physique, strong short paws with sharp claws. Powerful jaws with large teeth at a glance give out in this animal a fierce predator. Completes the picture of a long and moving bifurcated language.

Features of the view

Despite the impressive size and apparent sluggishness, the dragon lizard is an excellent swimmer, runner and climber. Komodo lizards perfectly climb trees, they can swim even to the neighboring island, and at short distances from them, no potential victim can escape.

Komodo Varan is not only an excellent tactician, but also a brilliant strategist. If this predator has put an eye on a too large victim, he can use not only brute force. Varan can wait, he can drag on for a dying beast for weeks, anticipating the coming feast.

How the Dragons of Our Days Live

A large lizard does not like the community of relatives and shuns them. Varangans lead a solitary way of life, and with themselves similar contact only in the mating season. These contacts are by no means limited to love pleasures. Males lead bloody battles between themselves, challenging the rights to females and territories.

These predators lead a daily life, sleep at night, and hunt at dawn. Like other reptiles, Komodo lizards are cold-blooded, they do not tolerate temperature changes. And from the scorching sunlight forced to hide in the shadows.

The Birth of the Dragon

Many interesting facts about lizards are associated with the continuation of the species. After the bloody bout, which often ends with the death of one of the fighters, the winner gets the right to create a family. Constant families these animals do not form, in a year the ritual will repeat.

The winner selects about two dozen eggs. She guards clutch about eight months, so that small predators or even the closest relatives will not have stolen eggs. But from birth, the dragon children are deprived of their motherly affection. Hatching, they are one on one with a harsh island reality and at first survive only because of the ability to hide.

Differences between lizards of different sex and age

Sexual demorphism in these creatures is not very pronounced. Large sizes are inherent in dragons of both sexes, but males are somewhat larger and more massive than females.

The baby is born inconspicuous, which helps it hide from predators and hungry relatives. Growing up, a large lizard gets saturated color. Young growth has bright spots on the bright green skin, which fades with age.

Hunting

If you are attracted by interesting facts about lizards, this issue requires the most careful study. On the islands of giant lizards there are no natural enemies, they can be safely called the top link of the food chain.

Warren hunt almost all of their neighbors. They even attack the buffaloes. Archaeologists, who established that several thousand years ago the islands were inhabited by dwarf elephants, do not rule out that it was some species of large lizards, related to the modern Komodo lizard, that caused their complete extermination.

Do not shun the giant lizard and carrion. They are happy to be lapped by sea-drowned underwater inhabitants or corpses of land animals. Cannibalism is a common occurrence.

Modern giants lead a solitary way of life, but hunting can spontaneously stray into bloodthirsty flocks. And where their powerful muscles, teeth and claws are powerless, they use more sophisticated weapons, which deserve special attention.

Poison

The peculiarities of the behavior of these amazing creatures have long been known. Scientists have found that lizards sometimes bite the victim, and then wander after her, without showing aggression. The unfortunate animal has no chance, it weakens and slowly dies. Once it was believed that the cause of the rapid spread of the deadly infection is the pathogenic microflora that settles in the oral cavity of the lizards during eating the carrion.

But recent research has proven that this creature has poison glands. The poison of the monitor is not as strong as that of some snakes, it can not kill immediately. The victim dies gradually.

By the way, here it is worth mentioning one more record. Komodo monitor is not only the largest lizard in the world, but also the largest poisonous creature.

Danger to people

The status of rare species and mention in the Red Book raises the question of who is more dangerous to whom. Komod dragons are a rare species, hunting for them is prohibited.

But it is not necessary to count on reciprocal pacifism. There are cases of attacks of warrants on humans. If you do not go to the hospital on time, where the patient will receive complex treatment, the poison is neutralized and an antibiotic is introduced, the risk of a lethal outcome is high. Especially dangerous lizards for children. They often encroach on human corpses, as a result of which it is customary on the island to protect graves with concrete slabs.

In general, man and the largest lizard in the world coexist fairly peacefully. On the islands of Komodo, Rincha, Gili Motang and Flores, unique parks are organized, in which every year many tourists come to admire the unusual and amazing reptiles.