Varan brief description. Gray Central Asian monitor lizard: description, size, danger to humans. Reproduction of Komodo dragons
Do you believe in the existence of dragons? If not, then by all means read our article. It might shake your confidence. After all, in fact, on the distant island of Komodo lives so big lizard that the locals confidently call her a dragon. And not only locals. The name Komodo dragon is scientific, it is also used by professionals.
You will learn about how the largest lizards in the world live from our material.
History reference
These giants were first discovered in 1912 on Komodo Island. It is easy to guess that the name of the big lizard is connected with this.
Since then, these creatures have been an object scientific research. Scientists have established that the history of the evolution of this species is associated with Australia. From a historical ancestor Varanus separated about 40 million years ago and emigrated to this remote mainland. For a while, the giants lived in Australia and nearby islands. Later, for various reasons, monitor lizards were pushed back to the islands of Indonesia, where they settled. Scientists suggest that this is due to changes in the relief and seismic activity. Komodo Island itself, by the way, is also of volcanic origin. It is worth noting that the relocation of bloodthirsty giants to the islands saved many representatives Australian fauna from total extermination. The big lizard has mastered new territories and dominates there to this day.
Appearance
How big can a Komodo dragon be? It's hard to imagine, but the Komodo dragon lizard is comparable in size to a young crocodile.
Scientists took measurements in a sample of 12 individuals and described them external features. The studied monitor lizards 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 spikes. These animals have a powerful physique, strong short legs with sharp claws. Powerful jaws with large teeth at first glance give out a fierce predator in this beast. A long and mobile forked tongue completes the picture.
View features
Despite its impressive size and apparent sluggishness, the dragon lizard is an excellent swimmer, runner and rock climber. Komodo monitor lizards are excellent tree climbers, they can even swim to a neighboring island, and not a single potential victim can escape from them at short distances.
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 can use more than just brute force. The monitor lizard knows how to wait, he is able to drag around a dying beast for weeks, anticipating the coming feast.
How dragons live today
The big lizard does not like the company of relatives and shuns them. Monitor lizards lead a solitary lifestyle, and contact their own kind only during the mating season. These contacts are by no means limited to love pleasures. Males lead bloody battles among themselves, contesting the rights to females and territories.
These predators lead daytime look life, sleep at night, and hunt at dawn. Like other reptiles, Komodo monitor lizards are cold-blooded, they do not tolerate temperature extremes well. And from scorching sun rays forced to hide in the shadows.
The birth of the dragon
Many Interesting Facts about lizards are related to the continuation of the species. After a bloody fight, which often ends in the death of one of the fighters, the winner gets the right to start a family. These animals do not form permanent families; in a year the ritual will be repeated.
The chosen one of the winner lays about two dozen eggs. She guards the clutch for about eight months to small predators or even the closest relatives did not steal the eggs. But from birth, dragon children are deprived of maternal caress. Having hatched, they find themselves alone with the harsh island reality and at first survive only thanks to the ability to hide.
Differences between monitor lizards of different sex and age
Sexual demorphism in these creatures is not too pronounced. Large sizes are inherent in dragons of both sexes, but males are somewhat larger and more massive than females.
The cub is born inconspicuous, which helps him hide from predators and hungry relatives. Growing up, a large lizard acquires a rich color. Juveniles have bright spots on bright green skin that fades with age.
Hunting
If you are attracted to interesting facts about lizards, this issue requires the most careful study. On the islands, no natural enemies, they can safely be called the top link of the food chain.
Monitor lizards prey on almost all of their neighbors. They even attack buffaloes. Archaeologists who have established that several thousand years ago the islands were inhabited do not exclude that it was some species of large lizards, related to the modern Komodo monitor lizard, that caused their complete extermination.
Do not shun giant lizards and carrion. They gladly feast on those thrown up by the sea. underwater inhabitants or corpses of land animals. Cannibalism is also common.
Modern giants lead a solitary life, but on the hunt they can spontaneously stray into bloodthirsty flocks. And where their powerful muscles, teeth and claws are powerless, they use more sophisticated weapons that deserve special attention.
Poison
About the behavior of these amazing creatures known for a long time. Scientists have found that monitor lizards sometimes bite the victim, and then roam 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 a deadly infection is the pathogenic microflora that settles in the oral cavity of monitor lizards while eating carrion.
But recent studies have proven that this creature has poisonous glands. The poison of the monitor lizard is not as strong as that of some snakes; it cannot instantly kill. The victim dies gradually.
By the way, here it is worth mentioning one more record. The Komodo dragon is not only the largest lizard in the world, but also the largest poisonous creature.
Danger to people
The status of a rare species and the mention in the Red Book raises the question of who is more dangerous to whom. Komodo dragons are a rare species hunting is prohibited.
But one cannot count on reciprocal pacifism. There are known cases of monitor lizard attacks on humans. If you do not go to the hospital in time, where the patient will receive complex treatment, neutralize the poison and administer an antibiotic, there is a high risk lethal outcome. Especially dangerous monitor lizards for children. They often encroach on human corpses, as a result of which it is customary on the island to protect the graves with concrete slabs.
In general, man and the largest lizard in the world coexist quite peacefully. Unique parks are organized on the islands of Komodo, Rincha, Gili Motang and Flores, where many tourists come every year to admire unusual and amazing reptiles.
The Komodo dragon is the largest lizard species in existence today.
Adult specimens of Komodo monitor lizards reach a weight of 70 kg and a body length of up to 3 m. It is worth noting that in captivity this monitor lizard can be even larger.
The adult has a dark brown color with a yellow speck. cutting edge monitor lizard teeth are somewhat reminiscent of a saw blade. This structure of the tooth allows the animal to easily butcher the carcass of its prey.
Habitat of Komodo monitor lizards
The habitat of this lizard is very localized. It is distributed only on the islands of Indonesia, such as Flores, Rinka, Jili Motang and Komodo. From the name of the last island, in fact, the name of this species comes. Studies show that these lizards left Australia 900,000 years ago and moved to the islands.
Komodo dragon lifestyle
These lizards form groups only during the mating season and during feeding. The rest of the time, stay alone. Activity is shown mainly during daylight hours. Being in the shade for the first part of the day, they go hunting in the second half, when the heat subsides somewhat. They spend the night in shelters, from which they crawl out only in the morning.
Monitor lizard keeps dry areas well-lit by the sun. Usually these are savannahs, dry forests of the tropics and arid plains. From May to October it inhabits dry riverbeds. In order to profit from carrion, it often visits the coast. Varan is an excellent swimmer. Cases have been noted when these lizards even swam from island to island.
Burrows up to 5 meters deep serve as a refuge for monitor lizards. The lizards dig these holes on their own. In this they are helped by their powerful paws with sharp claws. Younger monitor lizards, unable to dig their own similar holes, find shelter in hollows and cracks in trees. The monitor lizard is able to reach speeds of up to 20 km/h for a short time. To get to food at a certain height, the monitor lizard is able to rise on its hind legs.
In their natural habitat, adult lizards do not encounter enemies. However, young animals can often become prey birds of prey and snakes.
In captivity, these lizards rarely live up to 25 years, although, according to some reports, in wild environment monitor lizards can live up to half a century.
Feeding the Komodo dragon
food for komodo dragon served by a variety of animals. The diet includes fish, crabs, lizards, turtles, rats, snakes. The lizard also feeds on birds and insects. Of the large animals, deer, horses and even buffaloes sometimes become prey. In especially hungry years, monitor lizards do not disdain to eat individuals of their own species. In this case, as a rule, very small individuals and young animals become victims of cannibalism.
Adults very often feed on carrion. Sometimes the method of obtaining such carrion is very interesting.
The monitor lizard, having tracked down a large animal, suddenly attacks it, inflicting wounds on it, into which poison and bacteria from the oral cavity of this lizard will get. The monitor lizard then follows its prey in anticipation of its death.
Such persecution can last from several hours to several weeks. These lizards feel carrion well thanks to their surprisingly developed sense of smell.
Today, poaching within the habitat of monitor lizards causes great harm and reduces the number of large ungulates. Because of this, monitor lizards are often forced to settle for smaller prey. The consequence of this state of affairs is a decrease in the average size of adult Komodo dragons. This size has decreased by 25% over the past 10 years.
Reproduction of Komodo dragons
Sexual maturity comes to these lizards in the tenth year of existence. Until this time, only a small part of individuals survive. As for the sexual structure, females occupy only 23% of the entire population.
Due to the huge competition during the mating season, there are fights between males for females. In these fights, adult experienced individuals often win. The old and the young, as a rule, remain out of work.
mating season in monitor lizards starts at winter time. Having mated, the female is taken to search for a place for masonry. As a rule, such places are compost heaps created by weed chickens as nests. These heaps are natural incubators for Komodo dragon eggs. In these heaps, females dig deep burrows. Laying takes place in summer period from July to August. There are about 20 eggs in one clutch. With a diameter of 6 cm and a length of 10 cm, the eggs weigh about two hundred grams.
The Central Asian gray monitor is also called the Caspian monitor, it also has a scientific name Varanus griseus caspius. This is the largest lizard of the desert, which walks in a crouch and seems rather clumsy, but it is not, it can move quickly. This is the only species of monitor lizards that hibernates for the winter. We will learn more about this lizard - its description, lifestyle and habitats, how rare it is and what harm it can cause to a person.
Description and natural habitat
Central Asian gray monitor lizard is the largest subspecies of gray ( Varanus griseus) and the largest pangolin in the Central Asian territory.
Appearance and dimensions
Top part this gray monitor lizard, according to the name, has a grayish color or reddish-brownish tones. The main color is diluted with small specks and dark spots, alternating with dark brownish stripes. There are 2-3 stripes in the neck area dark color, directed longitudinally, connecting at the back into a pattern resembling a horseshoe. 
From 5 to 8 dark-colored stripes are visible from above the back, and 13-19 stripes run along the tail, which are arranged in rings. tail itself more length the body of this lizard is 18–27% and is slightly compressed on the sides towards the end, and rounded at the base. Juveniles have brighter grayish-yellow color tones and darker, almost black contrasting stripes.
The largest specimens can reach 1.5 meters, but usually these monitor lizards are somewhat smaller. Males longer, but their weight is about the same. The largest individuals reach a weight of 3–3.5 kg, but on average these lizards weigh slightly less than 3 kg.
Did you know? The largest monitor lizard on Earth is considered the Komodo monitor lizard, which reaches three meters in length. The smallest subspecies is the short-tailed monitor lizard. In length, it reaches 27–28 cm.
The scales covering the body are uneven in shape - they have blunt ribs on the back, smooth on the belly, and conical on the top of the neck. These scales are arranged along the body in approximately 143 rows.
The slit-like nostrils are close to the eyes and not at the end of the muzzle. They have a long forked tongue, like a snake. The teeth are sharp and close together. The iris is yellowish. 
Spreading
This pangolin lives on the territory of Central Asian countries (Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey) in desert and semi-desert conditions. The soil in the places of his residence is fixed and semi-fixed sand or clay.
They can also live in a river valley, foothills, ravine or tugai thickets. They bypass places with a riot of vegetation, but can sometimes visit light forests.
The area of their distribution reaches the Aral Sea and is limited to the southern deserts, reaches the Caspian Sea at the western borders of the range, in the east it is found in the Ferghana Valley, and southern part is located in the southwest of Tajikistan.
For living, the Central Asian gray monitor lizard prefers to choose places where small animals are found in abundance. Most often they are found near the Turkmen urban-type settlement of Karamet-Niyaz (from 9 to 12 lizards per 1 sq. km).
Length and lifestyle
In natural natural environment The Central Asian gray monitor, like all gray monitors, lives for about 7–8 years. In captivity, with optimal conditions and nutrition, this pangolin can live longer. 
They live in small groups. They are active in daytime, but strongly high temperatures prefer to avoid. Their body temperature in active state- 31.7–40.6 °С. Therefore, when the daytime heat reaches 40 ° C and above, he hunts only in the morning and evening, and waits the rest of the time in a hole.
As a dwelling and shelter, he uses the already dug holes of small animals (rodents, birds and turtles), which often become his prey. This lizard expands and deepens the captured underground passages and settles in them.
Often in sandy soil, he digs himself a hole 3–5 m long and 0.5–1.2 m deep, which most often ends in an extension in the form of a chamber 50 cm long and 10–12 cm wide. It is in them that monitor lizards hibernate, falling into a rather long hibernation (from late October to late March-early April).
At the same time, they close up the entrance with an earthen plug. Cracks in clay structures in abandoned human settlements can also be used as shelter.
Did you know? Monitor lizards are one of the most ancient reptiles - they existed on earth and 18 million years ago. This fact was confirmed by the discovery of an ancient fossil - a monitor lizard from about. Roosinga in East Africa.
In search of food, the lizard can travel about 10 km, climb small trees and enter the water. It hunts on its own territory, which usually occupies about 1 sq. km. 
Hunting and food
The prey of these lizards is most often all kinds of rodents (, mice, gophers and others). They can also eat other reptiles - snakes and others. Monitor lizards are resistant to bites poisonous snakes and quite large specimens of gyurz and cobras (more than 140 cm) sometimes become their prey.
Their manner of hunting is similar to tactics. They exhaust their prey with deceptive attacks, and then in a quick throw they grab the snake's head and clamp it with their teeth or beat it against the ground and stones until it stops moving. Individuals living near the water feed on toads and crabs.
The young hunt for insects, scorpions and salpug. Monitor lizard prey can be young hares and hedgehogs, birds and their eggs, as well as young turtles and turtle eggs. This carnivorous lizard will not refuse carrion either.
Enemies in the wild
The grown monitor lizard has almost no natural enemies, but young animals can become a victim of corsacs, jackals, snake-eaters and a black kite. A larger lizard may attack a smaller specimen or inflict damage on an opponent in a battle for a female. The greatest danger to the Central Asian gray monitor lizard is a person. 
reproduction
Puberty in gray monitor lizards occurs in the third year from birth. The mating season is short. During this period, fights often break out between male monitor lizards. After such clashes, monitor lizards often leave scars on their backs after inflicting wounds with sharp claws.
During the mating itself, the male rubs his muzzle and lower body against his girlfriend.
In the period from late June to early July, the female monitor lizard builds a nest for a week. Egg laying in the nest is carried out in the amount of 6-22 pieces. Such eggs have an average size of 2x4.7 cm, and weight in the range of 33–35 grams.
The nest with eggs is protected by females for several weeks, and sometimes for a longer time. Babies are born from the end of August to the first weeks of September. Then the slightly grown young go into hibernation for winter period near the nest.
Is it dangerous for humans
When colliding with people, the gray monitor lizard becomes in a threatening position - it inflates its body, which increases its size, makes hissing sounds, opens its mouth wide and stretches out its tongue, makes attempts to bite. 
He nervously moves his tail from one side to the other and is not given in hand. The bites of this large lizard are quite painful, and large individuals can easily have a bite human finger. The blow of the tail of this reptile is very biting.
Due to its small size and weight (no more than 5 kg), this lizard simply cannot be deadly, but you should be careful when meeting with this predator.
Important! The saliva of the gray monitor lizard is somewhat toxic, and its bite can lead to very unpleasant, but not fatal consequences. Its teeth are sharp and cause deep lacerations, which, in addition to the toxin, can also get an infection. Therefore, after the bite of this lizard, the wound should be treated with an antiseptic and be sure to see a doctor.
As a rule, these large lizards try to avoid meeting a person, but there are known cases of visits by them settlements. If you do not try to pick up a wild individual and do not threaten him with something, then you can not worry about anything, but you should always be careful.
These are difficult to tame lizards and only young animals can get used to a person and gradually let them in.
conservation status
In the 30s-40s of the 20th century, the skin of the gray monitor lizard was used for the manufacture of haberdashery. All this contributed phasing out these exotic amphibians. In addition, as a result of economic and production activities and the development of new land plots, this phenomenon has intensified. 
Sometimes monitor lizards are deliberately destroyed, simply because of old prejudices. Many negative signs are associated with it. So one of the prejudices in Asia is that if you meet a monitor lizard, then this is a disease, and if he slips between the legs of a man, then this will take away his masculine strength.
Moreover, it was undeservedly believed in Asia that these pangolins suck milk from domestic animals. All this is far from real facts, but this reptile is not loved and often killed. The population is decreasing all the time. Therefore, the Central Asian gray monitor was listed in the IUCN Red List.
In addition, it is listed in the Red Books and is protected by the following countries:
- Kyrgyzstan;
- Kazakhstan;
- Tajikistan;
- Turkmenistan;
- Uzbekistan.
The Central Asian gray monitor lizard is a rare and large pangolin that inhabits the deserts and semi-deserts of the Central Asian countries. long time he's just hibernating. When active, he can move quickly, is a successful hunter of poisonous snakes and can cause harm to a person, but not fatal. The wound after the bite should be treated, and then consult a doctor.
The Komodo dragon is sometimes called the Komodo dragon, and for good reason. This prehistoric predator its appearance and size really reminds us of mythical dragons. The Komodo dragon is one of the largest living reptiles and is the largest modern lizard. The massive body of this monster can reach more than 3 meters, but most often its length is 2-3 meters. These monitor lizards usually weigh about 80 kg, but can be much heavier - about 165 kg.
This dinosaur of our days is armed very impressively. Its skull is on average about 21 cm long, and in its huge mouth are many large teeth with jagged edges that are flattened laterally and curved back. Each tooth is a kind of carving knife. With such teeth, the animal can easily pull out pieces of meat from its prey. The monitor lizard does not have chewing teeth, all its teeth are of the same conical shape, so it practically does not chew, and tearing off pieces of meat, it simply swallows them. The structure of the skull and pharynx allows this reptile to swallow very large pieces.
In addition to terrifying teeth, the Komodo monitor lizard is armed with long hook-shaped claws and a truly terrible tail. A blow from such a tail can knock an adult off his feet and inflict severe injuries on him. When monitor lizards fight among themselves, for example, because of prey or a female, they stand on their hind legs, clasping each other with their paws and inflicting bites on each other, while trying to overcome the opponent. Although, I must say that they rarely fight over prey. On the island Komodo monitor lizards specially fed for the amusement of tourists. A few monitor lizards can safely devour a deer carcass. These huge lizards do not attack people, but they potentially pose a serious danger. Reliable cases of attacks of these reptiles on humans are known. Not only is the bite of a Komodo monitor lizard extremely dangerous in itself, it has a lot of microbes in its mouth that can cause blood poisoning.
In addition to the Komodo Island itself, which is lost among the many islands of the Indonesian archipelago, the Komodo monitor lizard lives on the islands of Flores, Rinja and Padar. All these islands are quite small, hardly visible on the map. And the Komodo monitor lizard is not found anywhere else in the world, so this species is protected by law. It would be a real crime if this reptile, which has come down to us from the depths of many millions of years, disappears from the face of the earth now, in the 21st century of our era.
Throughout its habitat, the Komodo monitor lizard is the dominant predator. None of the animals living side by side with him can compare with him in strength. The basis of the diet of the giant monitor lizard is deer and wild pigs. In addition, he eats other, smaller animals, as well as carrion.
Monitor lizards search for prey with the help of vision, as well as their unusual language. With its forked tongue, the monitor lizard perceives the smallest odor particles left by the victim, and analyzes them with the help of the Jacobson organ, which communicates with the oral cavity. Having found its prey, the monitor lizard sneaks up to it at a suitable distance, and then makes a swift throw. Despite its clumsy appearance, the Komodo monitor lizard is able to develop unexpected speed for such a huge lizard. In principle, a Komodo monitor lizard can catch up with a person, although much depends on the person himself - how fast he runs.
Mating of Komodo monitor lizards occurs, as a rule, in July and is accompanied by fierce battles between males. In August, the female lays more than two dozen eggs, which are usually buried in the ground, or hidden in a hole. After about 8-8.5 months, babies hatch from the eggs, which grow very quickly. They are very shy and flee at the slightest danger. Unlike adults, lizards are great at climbing trees and escaping, often climbing them. Young monitor lizards are colored brighter than adults. Over the years, they acquire a darker, greenish-brown color. The life expectancy of the Komodo dragon is about 50 years.
In captivity, Komodo monitor lizards quite easily get used to humans and become tame. It seems to me that monitor lizards are the most highly developed reptiles, after crocodiles. There are cases when tame monitor lizards responded to their nickname.
Classification:
Class: Reptilia (reptiles, or reptiles)
Order: Squamata (scaly)
Suborder: Lacertilia (lizards)
Family: Varanidae (monitors)
Genus: Varanus (lizards)
Species: Varanus komodoensis (Komodo dragon)
Photo.
The Komodo monitor lizard (giant Indonesian monitor lizard, Komodo dragon) (lat. Varanus komodoensis) is the largest in the world. predatory reptile belongs to the order of scaly, the superfamily of monitor lizards, the family of monitor lizards, the genus of monitor lizards. The Komodo monitor lizard, which is also called the "dragon of Komodo Island", got its name from one of its habitats.
Seasoned and strong monitor lizards easily cope with more impressive prey: wild boars, buffaloes, and goats. Often gets into the teeth of adult Komodo monitor lizards livestock, and , who came to the reservoirs for a drink or accidentally met on the way of this dangerous lizard. Monitor lizard from Komodo Island is also dangerous for humans, there are known cases of these predators attacking people. If there is not enough food large monitor lizards may attack smaller relatives. When eating food, the Komodo dragon can swallow very large pieces due to the movable connection of the bones of the lower jaw and a capacious stomach, which tends to stretch.
Komodo dragon hunting.
The principle of hunting the Komodo monitor lizard is quite cruel. Sometimes a large predatory lizard attacks its prey from an ambush, suddenly knocking down its “future dinner” with a powerful and sharp blow of the tail. At the same time, the impact force is so great that often potential prey gets leg fractures. 12 out of 17 deer die on the spot in a fight with a lizard. However, sometimes the victim manages to escape, though she can get severe injuries in the form of torn tendons or lacerations in the abdomen or neck area, which leads to inevitable death. The poison of the monitor lizard and the bacteria that are contained in the saliva of the reptile weaken the victim. At big booty, for example, in a buffalo, death can occur only 3 weeks after a fight with a monitor lizard. Some sources indicate that the giant Komodo monitor lizard will catch up with its prey by the smell and traces of blood to the point of complete exhaustion. Some animals manage to escape and heal their wounds, other animals fall into the clutches of predators, and others die from wounds inflicted by monitor lizard. An excellent sense of smell allows the Komodo dragon to smell food and the smell of blood at a distance of up to 9.5 km. And when the victim still dies, monitor lizards run to the smell of carrion to eat the dead animal.
Komodo dragon venom.
Previously, it was believed that the saliva of the Komodo monitor lizard contains only a harmful "cocktail" of pathogenic bacteria, to which the predatory lizard is immune. However, relatively recently, scientists have identified in the monitor lizard the presence of a pair of poisonous glands located on the lower jaw and producing special toxic proteins that cause a bitten victim to reduce blood clotting, hypothermia, paralysis, lowering blood pressure and loss of consciousness. The glands have a primitive structure: they do not have channels in the teeth, as, for example, in snakes, but open at the base of the teeth with ducts. Thus, the bite of a Komodo monitor lizard is poisonous.
