The world's largest lizard. The largest lizard in the world. Philippine swallowtail lizard
Do you believe in the existence of dragons? If not, then be sure to read our article. It may shake your confidence. Indeed, in fact, on the distant island of Komodo there lives such a large lizard that the locals confidently call it a dragon. And not only locals. The name “Komodo dragon” is scientific and is also used by professionals.
You will learn about how the largest lizards in the world live from our material.
Historical reference
These giants were first discovered in 1912 on Komodo Island. It’s easy to guess that this has something to do with the name of the large lizard.
Since then, these creatures have been the object scientific research. Scientists have found that the evolutionary history of this species is connected with Australia. From a historical ancestor Varanus separated about 40 million years ago and emigrated to this remote continent. For some time, giants lived in Australia and nearby islands. Later, for various reasons, monitor lizards were pushed to the islands of Indonesia, where they settled. Scientists suggest that this is due to changes in relief and seismic activity. Komodo Island itself, by the way, is also of volcanic origin. It is worth noting that the resettlement of bloodthirsty giants to the islands saved many representatives Australian fauna from complete extermination. The large lizard has conquered new territories and dominates there to this day.
Appearance
How big can a Komodo dragon reach? It’s hard to imagine, but the Komodo dragon lizard is comparable in size to a young crocodile.
Scientists took measurements of a sample of 12 individuals and described them external features. The monitor lizards studied reached a length of 2.25-2.6 meters, and their weight was 25-59 kilograms. But these figures are average. Several much more outstanding cases have been recorded and described. The length of some lizards reaches 3 or even more meters, and the largest known specimen weighed more than one and a half centners.
The skin of the monitor lizard is dark green, rough, often covered with small yellowish spots and leathery spines. These animals have a powerful build, strong short legs with sharp claws. At first glance, powerful jaws with large teeth reveal this animal as a fierce predator. A long and mobile forked tongue completes the picture.
Features of the view
Despite its impressive dimensions and apparent clumsiness, the dragon lizard is an excellent swimmer, runner and climber. Komodo dragons are excellent tree climbers, can even swim to a neighboring island, and at short distances not a single potential victim can escape from them.
The Komodo dragon is not only an excellent tactician, but also a brilliant strategist. If this predator has its eye on a prey that is too large, it may use more than just brute force. Varan knows how to wait, he is able to trail behind a dying animal for weeks, anticipating the coming feast.
How do dragons live today?
The large lizard does not like the company of its relatives and avoids them. Monitor lizards lead a solitary lifestyle, and contact with their own kind only in mating season. These contacts are by no means limited to love pleasures. Males wage bloody battles among themselves, disputing the rights to females and territories.
These predators lead daytime look life, they sleep at night and hunt at dawn. Like other reptiles, Komodo dragons are cold-blooded and do not tolerate temperature changes well. And from the scorching rays of the sun they are forced to hide in the shade.
Birth of the Dragon
Many Interesting Facts about lizards are associated with the continuation of the species. After a bloody fight, which often ends with the death of one of the fighters, the winner receives the right to start a family. These animals do not form permanent families; in a year the ritual will be repeated.
The winner's chosen one lays about two dozen eggs. She guards the clutch for about eight months in order to small predators or even the closest relatives did not steal the eggs. But from birth, dragon children are deprived of maternal affection. Having hatched, they find themselves face to face with the harsh island reality and at first survive only thanks to the ability to hide.
Differences between monitor lizards of different sexes and ages
Sexual demorphism in these creatures is not very pronounced. Large sizes inherent in dragons of both sexes, but males are somewhat larger and more massive than females.
The cub is born inconspicuous, which helps it hide from predators and hungry relatives. Growing up, the large lizard acquires a rich color. The young have bright spots on their bright green skin, which fades with age.
Hunting
If you are interested in interesting facts about lizards, this issue requires the most careful study. On the islands there is no natural enemies, they can safely be called the top link of the food chain.
Monitor lizards hunt almost all of their neighbors. They even attack buffalos. Archaeologists who have established that the islands were inhabited several thousand years ago do not rule out that it was some species of large lizards, related to the modern Komodo dragon, that became the reason for their complete extermination.
Giant lizards do not disdain carrion. They happily feast on those thrown out by the sea. underwater inhabitants or the corpses of land animals. Cannibalism is also common.
Modern giants lead a solitary lifestyle, but when hunting they can spontaneously form bloodthirsty packs. And where their powerful muscles, teeth and claws are powerless, they use more sophisticated weapons that deserve special attention.
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About the behavioral features of these amazing creatures has been known for a long time. Scientists have found that monitor lizards sometimes bite their prey and then wander after it without showing aggression. The unfortunate animal has no chance, it weakens and slowly dies. It was once believed that the cause of the rapid spread of the deadly infection was the pathogenic microflora that settled in the oral cavity of monitor lizards while eating carrion.
But recent research has proven that this creature has poisonous glands. The venom of a monitor lizard is not as strong as that of some snakes; it cannot kill instantly. The victim dies gradually.
By the way, one more record is worth mentioning here. The Komodo dragon is not only the largest lizard in the world, but also the largest venomous creature.
Danger to people
The status of a rare species and mention in the Red Book raises the question of who is more dangerous to whom. Komodo dragons are rare species, hunting them is prohibited.
But one cannot count on reciprocal pacifism. There are known cases of monitor lizards attacking humans. If you do not go to the hospital in time, where the patient will be given comprehensive treatment, the poison will be neutralized and an antibiotic will be administered, there is a high risk of death. Monitor lizards are especially dangerous for children. They often attack human corpses, as a result of which it is customary on the island to protect graves with concrete slabs.
In general, humans and the largest lizard in the world coexist quite peacefully. On the islands of Komodo, Rincha, Gili Motang and Flores, unique parks are organized, where many tourists come every year to admire the unusual and amazing reptiles.
As of 2014, there are 5,907 species of lizards on the planet. Below is a list of the ten most unusual lizards in the world, which differ from their relatives in their original appearance or behavior.
The fantastic leaf-tailed gecko, also known as the satanic gecko, is a species of gecko that lives on tree trunks and branches in damp tropical forests only for madagascar islands. Adults reach a length of 9–14 cm and weigh from 10 to 30 grams. Lead night look life by hunting insects. These amazing animals are endowed with the ability to mimicry - to merge with the bark of trees, dry leaves, etc. Due to deforestation, they are in danger of extinction. They can often be found in terrariums around the world.
The Moloch, also known as the thorny devil, is a species of rather unusual lizard widely distributed in the deserts and semi-deserts of western and central Australia. Body length adult does not exceed 20 cm, with a weight from 50 to 100 g. Active during the day. It feeds exclusively on ants, usually small species. During the day, the “thorny devil” is capable of eating several thousand ants, which he catches with the help of his sticky tongue.
Lobe-tailed geckos
Lobe-tailed geckos or flying geckos are a genus of geckos with 7 species. They live in Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Nicobar Islands (India), as well as on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan. They love tropical woodlands. Most They spend their lives in trees, along which they move very quickly. They live in hollows. Active at night. They feed on insects and small invertebrates. The total length of their body is 20–23 cm. Characteristic Features These geckos are able to jump up to 60 m from one tree to another.
Philippine swallowtail lizard
In seventh place on the list of the most unusual lizards in the world is the Philippine sail lizard, which is found only in the Philippines. These lizards are omnivores, feeding on fruits, leaves, flowers, insects and small mammals. They prefer to live in wet forests near water, rivers, rice fields etc. Adults can grow up to one meter long. They are excellent swimmers.
The common conolophus is a species of large lizard from the iguana family. They live in earthen burrows dug by them only on the Galapagos archipelago, on the islands of San Salvador, Santa Cruz, Isabela and Fernandina. Their body length reaches 125 cm, weight 13 kg. They feed exclusively on plants growing on the ground, sometimes on fallen fruits. 80% of their diet consists of sprouts and flowers of prickly pear (a plant from the Cactus family).
The marine iguana is an unusual lizard that lives exclusively on Galapagos Islands. It is found mainly on rocky shores, salt marshes and mangroves. The marine iguana is not very skilled on land, however, it swims and dives well. It can hold its breath for 1 hour, and also has the ability, unique among modern lizards, to spend most of its time in the sea. It feeds mainly on algae, sometimes small vertebrates. The total length of their body reaches 140 cm, of which more than half is occupied by the tail, weighing up to 12 kg.
The Komodo dragon is the most large lizard in the world, found in arid plains, savannas and dry tropical forests only on the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores and Gili Motang. Their body length reaches 3–4 m, weight is about 70–100 kg. They are considered excellent hunters, capable of reaching speeds of up to 20 km/h over short distances. They swim well and climb trees. They feed on a wide variety of animals. Their diet includes crabs, fish, sea turtles, lizards, snakes, birds, baby crocodiles, rodents, deer, wild boars, dogs, cats, goats, buffaloes, horses and even relatives. Possess poisonous bite and are considered one of the most cold-blooded sadistic killers in the animal world. In adults komodo dragons V wildlife There are no natural enemies except humans and possibly saltwater crocodiles.
Flying dragon (Draco volans)
The flying dragon is a species of unusual lizard, common in Indonesia on the islands of Borneo, Sumatra, Java, Timor, as well as in West Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippine Islands (Palawan), Singapore and Vietnam. The length of their body reaches about 20 cm. On its sides there are wide leathery folds stretched between six “false” ribs. When they open, peculiar “wings” are formed, with the help of which dragons can glide in the air at a distance of up to 60 meters. They live in the treetops of tropical forests, where they spend a significant part of their lives. They descend to the ground only in two cases - to lay eggs and if the flight is unsuccessful. They feed on insects, mainly ants and termites.
The Lesser Belttail is a species of lizard found in rocky, desert areas of southern Africa. Their body length ranges from 15 to 21 cm. There are hard bone plates like a shell on the head and back. It feeds on insects and small invertebrates. Lives in groups of up to 60 individuals, hiding in gorges and crevices. When in danger, they are able to curl into a ring, grabbing their tail with their mouths. Considered one of the most spiny animals in the world.
The most unusual lizard in the world is the frilled lizard, which lives in dry forests and forest-steppes in northwestern Australia and southern New Guinea. Their body length reaches 80–90 cm, weight 0.5 kg. It feeds on insects and other invertebrates, mainly spiders and small reptiles. In case of danger, the lizard is able to suddenly open its brightly colored collar (and this movement is accompanied by the simultaneous opening of its wide mouth), which scares away many enemies, including snakes and dogs. Interesting feature frilled lizard is her ability to run on her hind legs, holding her body almost vertically.
It turns out that in our time you can meet a dragon. This is what the inhabitants of Komodo Island (in Indonesia) call the Komodo dragon, which is the largest lizard in the world. This is not only a huge lizard, but also a cruel predator that brings fear to the islanders - the dragon can attack not only domestic animals, but also people, and children who are sitting or lying on the ground are especially vulnerable.
Excursion into history
The largest lizard in the world was first discovered by scientists at the beginning of the 20th century - descriptions of the dragon date back to 1912. It was during this time that the Komodo dragon was found on Komodo Island. Actually, the monitor lizard received the name Komodo based on its habitat. Scientists put forward a version that many thousands of years ago, Komodo dragons lived in Australia, and then moved to the islands located nearby. And today the dragon can be found not only on the island of Komodo, but also on the following islands: Flores, Ridge, Padar, Rinca. The number of lizards during the discovery period was small, and today it is only decreasing. Therefore, due to the threat of extinction, Komodo dragons are currently heavily protected and are listed in the Red Book.
Description of the Komodo dragon
Adult monitor lizards can grow more than 3 meters in length, and their weight can be up to 160 kg. However, such large individuals are not found so often - as a rule, the length of these largest lizards in the world is 2 meters. Due to the huge size of Komodo dragons, they have practically no enemies, but this applies to adult lizards, and small monitor lizards become a treat for birds of prey, snakes and even their relatives. Like any lizard, Komodo dragons have long tail. Their skin color is dark with small spots, but young animals are lighter in color. These giant lizards have powerful jaws and very sharp teeth, because they are predators.
The huge head alone and the incredibly large toothed mouth, from which a forked long tongue protrudes, can plunge any person into indescribable horror. Seeing this animal, you can imagine yourself in a completely different era, when there were a huge number of such creatures. It is amazing that in our time the Komodo dragon has retained its appearance practically unchanged.
Distinctive features of the Komodo dragon
The largest lizard in the world, despite its impressive size, can run very fast, albeit over short distances. In addition, she can swim and can even swim to the island next door. The Komodo dragon can perfectly get food from trees, while standing on its hind legs. Young individuals are excellent at climbing trees and spending time on them. a large number of time. This is how young monitor lizards escape from predators that might attack them.
Komodo dragons have excellent hearing and sharp eyesight, but their main sense organ is smell. Dragons have two poisonous glands and deadly saliva, thanks to which they kill their victims and obtain food for themselves.
Lifestyle
At night, Komodo dragons hide in burrows that they make themselves. They go hunting early in the morning. During the day, they also hide from the rays of the scorching sun. They are cold-blooded creatures, so they do not tolerate sudden temperature fluctuations. As a rule, Komodo giant lizards are loners. They live in groups only during the breeding season.
How do they hunt and what do they eat?
Komodo dragons feed on both small and large animals (including domestic ones), mainly eating carrion. Also, dragons, being able to climb trees well, steal birds' eggs. In a hungry year, adults even eat their younger relatives. Thanks to their acute sense of smell, these lizards are able to smell blood at a distance of up to 5 km.
As a rule, monitor lizards hunt big catch from ambush. When attacking her, they bite the animal and follow her, awaiting her death. Moreover, the monitor lizard is helped more not by the poisonous glands, as previously thought, but by saliva, which contains a large number of pathogenic bacteria. It is these bacteria that, when entering the victim’s blood, lead to its inevitable death. As a result, the monitor lizard's victim loses consciousness and then dies.
Instead of injecting poison, the monitor lizard rubs it into the victim’s wound with one blow. This method of hunting has helped monitor lizards exist for many millennia. With the help of a forked tongue, the Komodo dragon is able to smell carrion from afar and is more likely to rush to a feast in which its other relatives also take part. Moreover, eating meat poisoned by its own saliva does not harm them at all, since monitor lizards have excellent immunity. And the substances released during the decomposition of the monitor lizard’s killed prey only enrich the giant lizard’s oral cavity with new bacteria of a deadly nature.
Danger to humans
There have been cases when the Komodo dragon attacked a person. The bite of this animal is very dangerous for humans, as it begins inflammatory process due to the influence of pathogenic bacteria. Monitor lizards can especially attack small children. However, it is believed that this is only when they confuse their usual food. However, after being bitten by this huge lizard It is important to seek medical help immediately because death is 99 percent.
Not only living people suffer from Komodo dragons, but also the dead - the dragons dig up buried corpses and feed on them. Therefore, today the dead are buried under cast cement slabs.
Offspring
Male monitor lizards fight for their mate every year. The monitor lizard who wins gets a female, who will then lay 20 eggs. For eight months, she will ensure that no one eats the eggs, but the hatched young monitor lizards will be deprived of maternal care. They must take care of their own safety, so they often hide in trees or in shelters. Moreover, they often hide from representatives of their own species, who do not disdain young animals as their food.
In prehistoric times, the Earth was inhabited by dinosaurs, foot-and-mouth diseases and mammoths. Climate change and evolution led to their extinction, but quite recently scientists discovered in distant Indonesia a lizard of monstrous size, which local residents called a dragon.
Amazing discovery
In 1912, a group of scientists exploring Komodo Island in Pacific Ocean, came across a wondrous monster that resembled a lizard in appearance, only of enormous size. Having caught one specimen with the help of Aboriginal hunters, they began to study the “dragon” in earnest.
The monster in fact turned out to be a representative of cold-blooded reptiles. According to its species characteristics, the reptile is classified as a monitor lizard. According to the place where it was found, it was called the Komodo (Komodo) or Indonesian monitor lizard. Average length reptiles – 2.5-2.8 m, and weight – up to 90 kg. This is the longest lizard on the planet. It is one of the ten largest animals on the planet. In 1937, at an exhibition in the city of San Lewis in Missouri (USA), a record specimen measuring more than 3 meters long and weighing 166 kg was presented.
Description of appearance
The Komodos “monster” resembles a hybrid of a giant lizard and a crocodile. It has a developed jaw full of sharp teeth, short thick legs and a strong tail that equal to length torso. In adults, the color is dark brown with yellow speckles, while in young animals the skin has a brighter shade with light spots, sometimes turning into stripes.
Males are much larger than females, they are also stronger and more aggressive.
The largest lizard, due to its size, seems clumsy, but this is a deceptive impression. On its short legs, it reaches a speed of more than 20 km/h, is jumping, easily rises on its hind legs, leaning on its powerful tail, and swims well over long distances. Young lizards deftly climb trees.
The giant is distinguished by its vigilance, excellent hearing and amazing sense of smell. Its olfactory organs are located on its forked tongue, and thanks to them, the Indonesian monitor lizard can smell prey at a distance of 5 km! This is a kind of record in the animal world.
Studying “dragons,” scientists determined their age potential to be 50 years, although no one has yet met a monitor lizard older than 25 years.
Lifestyle
The largest lizard in the world is diurnal and sleeps at night. Like any cold-blooded animal, it does not tolerate temperature changes well, so it hides in the shade during the day and hunts in the morning and evening. Selects dry and sunny flat terrain or savannas. It lives in burrows up to 5 meters deep, and young foot-and-mouth mosquitoes prefer tree hollows.
These “land crocodiles” are loners. Several individuals gather only during the mating season or while eating carrion together. At the same time, the hierarchy is clearly observed in the pack. Young strong males dominate, while old men, young people and females are pushed into the background.
In its habitat, foot and mouth disease is at the top of the food chain, so it has no enemies, except that very young individuals can be threatened by snakes or large predator birds.
The victims of the Komodo reptile are large animals such as deer, buffalo, horses, wild boars, and goats. On hungry days he does not disdain small rodents, birds, frogs, crabs, fish, even insects. There are cases of cannibalism when seasoned monitor lizards eat weaker relatives.
Dangerous predator
How does the longest lizard hunt? Most often, it attacks from an ambush, knocks down the victim with a strong blow of its tail, breaking its legs, and inflicts a laceration with its teeth. After this it releases the prey. The animal dies itself within a few hours or days from poison and blood poisoning, since the saliva itself large reptile teeming with toxic bacteria. During the research, scientists identified 57 different strains in her mouth, including anthrax. Each of the bacteria in itself is very dangerous, and their bouquet, entering the blood, leaves the victim no chance. After being bitten by a Komodo dragon, death occurs in 99 out of 100 cases.
Giant foot-and-mouth diseases, smelling rot and blood, come running to the feast. They feed mainly on carrion. They very rarely tear apart prey that is still alive. These reptiles are capable of tearing off and swallowing large pieces of meat, in which they are extremely helped sharp teeth, a powerful jaw and a stretchable stomach-bag.
Interestingly, the pus and infections of a dead animal do not harm monitor lizards, which have incredible immunity. On the contrary, they only enrich the harmful microflora of their oral cavity.
Indonesian predators can also attack people. If you don’t get it within a couple of hours after the bite medical care, then death from sepsis is inevitable. There have been several documented cases of monitor lizards attacking children. It is better for women not to visit the Indonesian islands during their period, as the smell of blood excites the hunting instinct of monitor lizards, which makes them very dangerous.
Reproduction
Puberty in these reptiles it occurs very late - only at 9-10 years of life. In July-August, all sexually mature individuals gather together. Since there are 4 times more males in the population than females, mating is preceded by mating fights. The strongest one wins and gets the female.
After mating, she digs a deep hole where she lays 20-25 eggs. The lizard protects the clutch for 8 months. But when the monitor lizards hatch, she immediately leaves them. Cubs survive thanks to a strong natural instinct of self-preservation. They spend most of their time in trees, escaping from enemies, feeding on small animals and bird eggs.
Monitor lizards have such a feature as the ability to lay eggs without prior fertilization. In this case, 100% of the lizards hatch are male.
Dragons also need protection
Unique Creatures distributed over a very narrow range. They are found only on a few Indonesian islands - Komodo, Gili Motang, Flores, Rinca. A total of 5,000 of these giant lizards have been discovered. According to scientists, their numbers are slowly but steadily declining due to the development of the islands by people and poaching. To protect this unique species, it was created in 1980 National Park"Komodo", where excursions are organized.
The animals are listed in the Red Book; hunting them is prohibited. The law says that even if a reptile attacks a person - an adult or a child, it cannot be killed! The “dragon” must be scared away, then professional huntsmen must be called to find this monster and transport it to the other end of the island.
To control the population of Komodo dragons, a special campaign was carried out, during which a chip was implanted into all found reptiles. hind paw. That's how they were counted. Experts emphasize that the largest lizard in the world will survive only in natural environment, for which it is necessary to limit the settlement of people on the islands.