Komoda Dragon
...RE: · The Komodo is active during the day and night; as the sun warms its body temperature, its activity level increases. · Solitary reptiles, Komodos come together only to breed and sometimes to feed on carrion. · They're good swimmers. · The Komodo has a rudimentary sense of hearing; it uses its eyes to locate prey and finds it difficult to see stationary animals. · It hunts by ambush and seizes prey with its jaws, ripping out the intestines; bacteria in its mouth infects the prey when bitten, usually causing death by blood poisoning — if prey escapes, it will usually die within one to two days. Komodos can track down injured prey for up to four miles. · When eating, the Komodo takes huge chunks of flesh from the prey's body, using its forefeet to hold it down, then swallows flesh without chewing. · Males follow a strict hierarchy when feeding; the strongest male eats first and does not allow others to eat until he finishes. Females, however, feed together without any interference. · For shelter, Komodos dig burrows that measure 3 to 6 feet wide. · They are sexually dimorphic. · Males are territorial. · The Komodo reaches sexual maturity between 3 to 5 years of age. · Komodos mate between June and July. Males in competition over a female engage in "boxing matches"; during copulation, the male usually scratches the back of the female's neck with his claws, occasionally drawing blood. · Females dig a hole approximately 40 days after mating and bury up to 25 eggs in moist earth. Incubation lasts six to eight weeks. · Young dragons are left to fend for themselves, and are sometimes eaten by their parents, who forget they are their young. Komodos have the ability to climb at an early age, and often survive by living in trees and eating insects. They can also move surprisingly quickly, which helps protect them from predators. Their camouflage coloration, slender bodies, long tails and sharp claws help them adapt well to arboreal life. · Komodos live approximately 25 years. V. SPECIAL NOTES/ADAPTATIONS: · At night, the Komodo uses its tongue, which contains highly sensitive taste and scent stimuli, to navigate in the dark. · It can run up to 35 miles per hour for short distances. · The Komodo has an excellent sense of smell and can detect the scent of rotting meat from five miles away. VI. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: · Young dragons are prey for birds, snakes and ot...