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Kingdom: animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Family: Varanidae
Order: Squamata
Genus: Eukarya
Species: Moniter lizard
Evolution
Subspecies: None
Existence: 3.8 million years
Closest living relative: Lace Moniter
3 ancestors: Lace moniter, Komodoensis, megalania
Description
Physical description: long, heavy, agile
Key characteristics of species: Venom produced by toxin-secreting glands of monitor lizards, Long neck for viewing surroundings .
Size : 6-10 ft length
Weight 70-136 kg
Life span: 30 years
Differences between males and females: Males are bigger
Description of habitat
Found in: Indonesias lesser sunda islands
How much rainfall: 6.1 inches
Plants: The higher slopes of the islands contain forests of tall Podocarpus conifers and Engelhardias with an undergrowth of lianas, epiphytes, and orchids.
Animals found on island: Sumatran Tigers, Bali Starling and more
Temperature: 86-90 average
Terrain: The Lesser Sunda Islands (Indonesian: Kepulauan Nusa Tenggara "southeastern archipelago" or Kepulauan Sunda Kecil "lesser sunda archipelago") are an archipelago in Maritime Southeast Asia, north of Australia. Together with the Greater Sunda Islands to the west they make up the Sunda Islands.
Distribution
Continents found: Komodo, rinca, Gili motang
Are they invasive?: No, however they are threatened by the invasive Asian common toad
Diet
What do they eat? Adults Wild boar Sunda deer Water buffalo Large snakes Occasionally, smaller Komodos Less commonly, goats Only occurs near human habitation, Hatchlings feed exclusively on insects Beetles and grasshoppers and Small-size Komodo dragons Smaller lizards Insects Birds and their eggs
How often do they eat? 12 meals a year
How does it get its food? Komodo dragons eat by tearing large chunks of flesh and swallowing them whole while holding the carcass down with their forelegs.
Any special foods? No
Social Structure
Solitary
Apex predators
Males compete for breeding rights to receptive females
No Groups
They interact by mating
Reproduction
Mate once a year
One mate
May-August when they mate
around 30 eggs
Development
sexual maturity 9 years on average for females and 10 for males
Young Komodo dragons spend much of their time in trees trying to avoid predators, which sometimes include adult dragons which have turned to cannibalism. Komodo dragons typically reach maturity around 8 to 9 years of age and may begin reproducing anywhere between 7 and 10 years.
Males typically live much longer, males are bigger
Causes of death
apex predators have no predators
may die when trying to get mate due to fighting
Komodo dragons are very poisoning
Competition
reticulated python, bearded dragons and the frilled neck lizard
Moniter lizard
they compete over females for reproduction
The invasive species are affecting the komodo dragon because its reducing natural resources
IUCN rating
Endangered Species
6,000
Declining
Impact of humans
land is declining due to humans
land may be reduced leading to less resources for the species
Humans have been interacting with this species since the early millenia
having protected land for the species is being made in effect
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