The largest lizards in the world. The largest lizard in the world Giant lizard predator

Lizards have lived on Earth for millions of years. They managed to successfully adapt to the changing living conditions on our planet and today this species of animal can be found in different parts Sveta.

The most big lizard lives on Komodo Island in Indonesia. This komodo dragon, which has a length of 3 meters with a body weight of up to 160 kg. This species of lizard is of particular interest to scientists. Locals call it the Dragon of Komodo Island. He tops the ranking of the largest lizards.

1. Komodo dragon or Komodo dragon

Scientists discovered this species of lizard in 1912. It is believed that these giants used to live in Australia. Seismic activity and changes in topography prompted them to move to the islands of Indonesia. Adult monitor lizards grow up to 3 meters in length and can weigh up to 160 kg.

The average Komodo dragon is up to 2 meters long. The skin of these animals is dark and spotted. They have powerful paws, tail, jaws and sharp teeth.

These lizards are excellent swimmers, climb trees and run at a speed of 20 km per hour. Komodo dragons scary predators, having no enemies in nature. They hunt rodents, snakes, baby crocodiles, deer, wild boars, goats, buffaloes and even their relatives. These lizards do not disdain carrion and can tear out and eat the bodies of buried animals and people. Therefore, on Komodo Island, heavy slabs are placed on graves.

There have been cases of attacks by these giants on people, although this happens rarely. Danger awaits children and livestock, which often become the monitor lizard's lunch. The saliva of these “dragons” is toxic, so after being bitten the victim weakens and slowly dies.

Komodo dragons engage in bloody fights for females in mating season. She lays up to 20 eggs. The cubs are born small and can become prey for birds and snakes. The mother guards only the clutch. Then everything depends on the ability to hide, so the kids hide in the foliage.

The Komodo monitor lizard is listed in the Red Book. Hunting for this lizard is prohibited. But local residents compensate for the inconvenience of coexistence with this giant with income from the tourism business. Despite the dangers, tourists actively visit Komodo all year round.

This huge lizard lives in Australia. Its body length is up to 2.5 meters, with a weight of 25 kg.

Lives in inaccessible areas, feeds on snakes, birds and small mammals (wallabies, wombats). When trying to hunt it, it attacks a person. A blow from the tail can knock a man to the ground or cripple a dog.

3. Striped monitor lizard

The body length of this giant is up to 250 cm. Weight is up to 20 kg. The only thing heavier than it is the Komodo dragon. Distributed in Sumatra, Java, and mainland India.

This is a semi-aquatic lizard. She swims and dives well. Digs holes 10 meters deep and can climb trees. Eats fish, baby crocodiles, turtle eggs, otters and even mammals (monkeys).

Lives in New Guinea. Body length up to 2 meters, weight up to 10 kg. This is a tree lizard. Uses its tail for gripping when climbing tree branches, and often rises on its hind legs to navigate the terrain.

Hunts birds, snakes, kangaroos, and does not disdain carrion. It swallows small prey whole, and tears out pieces of meat from large prey. There have been cases of attacks on humans and livestock.

Reaches a body size of up to 175 cm. Weight up to 7.2 kg. Digs holes under tree roots or stones. It can live in a hollow and is an excellent tree climber.

Runs and jumps quickly. Lives in India and Pakistan. In the north of Pakistan it flows into hibernation. It feeds on rodents, snakes, eggs of birds, snakes and crocodiles.

Body length up to 125 cm. Weight up to 13 kg. Lives only on Galapagos Islands.

Digs holes for himself. It feeds on vegetation, picking up fallen fruits, flowers and sprouts of cacti (prickly pear).

Lives on the Galapagos Islands. Body length up to 140 cm. Weight up to 12 kg. It has a long tail, up to half the body. He spends most of his time at sea and can swim and dive perfectly.

On land it can be found on rocky shores, swamps or mango thickets. Has an interesting pinkish skin color. Feeds on algae. It lays eggs on the shore in warm sand.

The body length of the sail lizard reaches 1 meter, and it has a leathery crest on its back. This lizard is omnivorous.

She eats fruits, flowers, leaves, insects and small mammals. The animal is not aggressive, so it often becomes prey for local hunters. The females lay their eggs in the sand on the shore.

The largest chameleons grow up to 60 cm in length. These lizards have long legs with toes adapted for grasping branches. The chameleon's curled tail also helps in this. These animals have small horns on their round heads.

The chameleon has unusual eyes that can look in different directions and increase the view of the area when hunting. This lizard can change skin color. Color changes depend on air temperature, fear, anger, hunger and other emotions.

The animals are widespread in Africa, India, Sri Lanka, America and Southern Europe. Chameleons have a long tongue with an insect sucker. They will also not refuse to eat fruits and young greens.

There are up to 5,000 species of lizards on Earth, and all of them are fascinating. After all, one cannot help but be surprised by the ability of these animals to autotomize, that is, in case of danger, to discard and grow their tail again. These creatures can change skin color to adapt to environment or disguise itself as a dried leaf. Vasilisk can run on water, and Moloch can absorb water in the desert with the entire skin of its body.

The long forked tongue helps lizards hunt. Their adaptability, strength and ability to survive can be the envy of many animals. The most large lizard, the Kamodo monitor lizard, is exceptional view, which may yet present many surprises to scientists.

Reptiles from ( Squamata), which includes more than 10 thousand species. They are found on everyone except . Lizards vary in size from small chameleons to the huge Komodo dragon. They usually walk on all fours. Although, some species do not have limbs and are more like snakes.

Lizards are territorial animals. Males fight among themselves for control of territory, but tolerate the presence of females. Large lizards, such as the Komodo dragon, hunt large animals such as buffalo, while smaller lizards feed on insects.

Below is a list, names, descriptions and photos of the largest living lizards in the world.

Argentine black and white tegu

Argentinian black and white tegu (Salvator merianae), also known as the giant tegu - the most great view lizards from the genus Tegu. Adult males can reach a body length of 120-140 cm. These lizards live in semi-deserts, savannah and tropical forests Central and. Tegus are capable of developing high speeds for short distances. They are one of the few lizards that can regulate their body temperature during the breeding season. They feed on insects, snails, spiders and others.

Striped monitor lizard

Striped monitor lizard, or water monitor ( Varanus salvator) is a lizard species endemic to Southeast and South Asia. These are the most common monitor lizards in Asia. Their range ranges from Northeast India, Sri Lanka, the Malay Peninsula to the islands of Indonesia. Water monitor lizards are large lizards that reach 150-200 cm in length and weigh up to 20 kg or more. They have muscular body and a powerful tail. The keen sense of smell of the striped monitor lizard helps it identify and overtake prey kilometers away.

Arizona snaketooth

White-throated monitor

White-throated monitor ( Varanus albigularis) - one of largest species lizards in . Found in the southern, eastern and central regions. The average weight of an adult varies from 3 to 5 kg in females and from 6 to 8 kg in males; large males reach 15-17 kg. Body length can reach 150-200 cm. White-throated monitor lizards prefer to live in trees away from water. They are known to be very territorial and will bite, scratch or lash with their powerful tail when threatened. Found in the deserts of South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory. The habitat consists of gorges and rocky outcrops. The giant monitor lizard prefers hard-to-reach places with minimal human intervention. A large monitor lizard can reach 250 cm in length and weigh 15-20 kg. The diet of these monitor lizards consists of insects, fish, small lizards, rabbits, etc. Larger individuals hunt wombats, dingoes and kangaroos. When threatened, the perenty flees or freezes in place, which is typical for most monitor lizards.

Komodo dragon

Komodo dragon ( Varanus komodoensis) - the largest living lizard in the world; can grow up to 300 cm in length and reach a weight of about 70 kg. It is found in the Indonesian Lesser Sunda Islands such as Komodo, Flores, Padar, Rinca and Gili Motang. Komodo dragons have a long, flat head with a rounded muzzle, a huge, muscular tail, strong legs and scaly skin. They are not afraid to hunt big catch, including deer, wild boar and buffalo. Attacks on people were also reported. Komodo dragon saliva is highly poisonous and one bite is enough to kill a buffalo in less than 12 hours.

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 the original appearance or behavior.

The fantastic leaf-tailed gecko, also known as the satanic gecko, is a species of gecko that lives on the trunks and branches of trees in tropical rainforests only on the 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. The body length of an adult does not exceed 20 cm, with a weight of 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. They spend most of their lives in trees, through 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).

Marine iguana- an unusual lizard that lives exclusively on the Galapagos Islands. 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 hold most time at 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 largest 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 adult Komodo dragons, wildlife natural enemies none, except for 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 off many enemies, including snakes and dogs. Interesting feature The frilled lizard is its ability to run on its hind legs, holding its body almost vertically.

Komodo dragon- one of the most amazing reptiles on the planet. The strong, unusually agile giant lizard is also called the Komodo dragon. External resemblance With mythical creature the monitor lizard is provided huge body, long tail and powerful bent paws.

A strong neck, massive shoulders, and small head give the lizard a militant appearance. Powerful muscles are covered with rough scaly skin. The huge tail serves as a weapon and support during hunting and showdowns with rivals.

Origin of the species and description

Varanus komodoensis is a chordate of the class of reptiles. Belongs to the order Squamate. Family and clan - monitor lizards. The only one of its kind is the Komodo dragon. First described in 1912. The giant Indonesian monitor lizard is a representative of a relict population of very large monitor lizards. They also inhabited the Pliocene period. They are 3.8 million years old.

Movement earth's crust 15 million years ago caused the influx of Australia into Southeast Asia. The transformation of the land allowed large Varanids to return to the territory of the Indonesian archipelago. This theory was proven by the discovery of fossils similar to the bones of V. komodoensis. The Komodo dragon actually comes from Australia, and the largest extinct lizard, Megalania, is its closest relative.

The development of the modern Komodo dragon began in Asia with the genus Varanus. 40 million years ago, giant lizards migrated to Australia, where they developed into the Pleistocene monitor lizard - Megalania. Megalania managed to achieve such an impressive size in a non-competitive food environment.

In Eurasia, remains of an extinct Pliocene species of lizard similar in size to modern Komodo dragons, Varanus sivalensis, have also been discovered. This proves that giant lizards thrived even in conditions where there was high food competition from carnivores.

Appearance and features

The Indonesian monitor lizard's body and skeletal structure resembles extinct ankylosaurs. A long, squat body elongated parallel to the ground. Strong crooked paws do not give the lizard gracefulness when running, but do not slow it down either. Lizards can run, maneuver, jump, climb trees and even stand on their hind legs.

Komodo dragons are capable of accelerating up to 40 km per hour. Sometimes they compete in speed with deer and antelope. There are many videos on the Internet where a hunting monitor lizard tracks and overtakes ungulate mammals.

The Komodo dragon has a complex coloration. The main tone of the scales is brown with complex inclusions and transitions from gray-blue to red-yellow. By color you can determine which age group refers to the lizard. In young individuals the coloring is brighter, in adults it is calmer.

Video: Komodo dragon

The head, small compared to the body, resembles a cross between the head of a crocodile and a turtle. There are small eyes on the head. A forked tongue protrudes from its wide mouth. The ears are hidden in folds of skin.

The long, powerful neck extends into the body and ends with a strong tail. An adult male can reach 3 meters, females -2.5. Weight from 80 to 190 kg. The female is lighter -70 to 120 kg. Monitor lizards move on four legs. During hunting and showdowns over possession of females and territory, they are able to stand on their hind legs. The clinch between two males can last up to 30 minutes.

Monitor lizards are hermits. They live separately and unite only during the mating period. Life expectancy in nature is up to 50 years. The Komodo dragon reaches sexual maturity at 7-9 years of age. Females do not court or care for their offspring. Their maternal instinct enough to protect laid eggs for 8 weeks. After the birth of the offspring, the mother begins to hunt for newborns.

Where does the Komodo dragon live?

The Komodo dragon has an isolated distribution in only one part of the world, making it particularly susceptible to natural disasters. The area of ​​the habitat is small and amounts to several hundred square kilometers.

Adult Komodo dragons live primarily in tropical forests. They prefer open flat areas with tall grasses and shrubs, but are also found in other habitats such as beaches, ridge tops and dry river beds. Young Komodo dragons live in forested areas until they are eight months old.

This species is found only in South-East Asia on the scattered islands of the Lesser Sunda Islands archipelago. The most densely populated by monitor lizards are Komodo, Flores, Gili Motang, Rinca and Padar and several other tiny islands in the surrounding area. Europeans saw the first giant lizard on Komodo Island. The discoverers of the Komodo dragon were shocked by its size and believed that the creature could fly. Hearing stories about living dragons, hunters and adventurers rushed to the island.

An armed group of people landed on the island and managed to get one monitor lizard. It turned out that it was a large lizard more than 2 meters in length. The following individuals caught reached 3 meters or more. The research results were published two years later. They refuted speculation that the animal could fly or breathe fire. The lizard was given the name Varanus komodoensis. However, another name has also been assigned to it - the Komodo dragon.

The Komodo dragon has become something of a living legend. In the decades since Komodo's discovery, various scientific expeditions from a number of countries have conducted field studies of dragons on Komodo Island. Monitor lizards did not go unnoticed by hunters, who gradually reduced the population to a critical minimum.

What does the Komodo dragon eat?

Komodo dragons are carnivores. It was believed that they eat mainly carrion. In fact, they hunt frequently and actively. They ambush large animals. It takes a long time to wait for a victim. Komodos track prey over long distances. There are cases where Komodo dragons have knocked down large ones with their tails. An acute sense of smell allows you to find food at a distance of several kilometers.

Monitor lizards eat prey by tearing large pieces of meat and swallowing them whole, while holding the carcass with their front paws. Loosely articulated jaws and expanding stomachs allow them to swallow prey whole. After digestion, the Komodo dragon disgorges the remaining bones, horns, hair and teeth of its victims from its stomach. After cleaning their stomach, monitor lizards clean their faces on grass, bushes or dirt.

The diet of the Komodo dragon is varied and includes invertebrates, other reptiles, including smaller dragons. Monitor lizards eat birds, their eggs, and small mammals. Among their victims, wild boars, . Large animals such as deer, horses, etc. are also eaten. Young monitor lizards feed on insects, eggs of birds and other reptiles. Their diet also includes small mammals.

Sometimes monitor lizards attack and bite people. There are cases when they eat human corpses, digging up bodies from shallow graves. This habit of raiding graves caused the Komodo people to move graves from sandy to clay soil and place stones on them to deter the lizards.

Features of character and lifestyle

Despite the enormous growth and large mass body, the Komodo dragon is a rather secretive animal. Avoids meeting people. In captivity, it does not become attached to people and demonstrates independence.

The Komodo dragon is a solitary animal. Does not form groups. Zealously guards its territory. Does not raise or protect its offspring. At the first opportunity, he is ready to feast on the baby. Prefers hot and dry places. Typically lives in open plains, savannas and tropical forests at low altitudes.

Most active during the day, although it exhibits some activity at night. Komodo dragons are solitary, only coming together to mate and eat. They are able to run fast and skillfully climb trees when young. To catch out-of-reach prey, the Komodo dragon can stand on its hind legs and use its tail as a support. Uses claws as weapons.

For shelter, it digs holes 1 to 3 m wide using its powerful front paws and claws. Because of big size and sleeping habits in burrows are able to retain body heat during the night and minimize its loss. Knows how to camouflage well. Patient. Capable of spending hours in ambush waiting for its prey.

The Komodo dragon hunts during the day but remains in the shade during the hottest part of the day. These resting areas, usually located on ridges with cool sea breezes, are marked with droppings and cleared of vegetation. They also serve as strategic ambush spots for deer.

Social structure and reproduction

Komodo dragons do not form pairs, do not live in groups, and do not form communities. They prefer an exclusively isolated lifestyle. They carefully protect their territory from their relatives. Other members of their species are perceived as enemies.

Mating in this species of lizard occurs in summer time. From May to August, males fight for females and territory. Fierce fights sometimes end in the death of one of the opponents. An opponent pinned to the ground is considered defeated. The fight takes place on the hind legs.

During battle, monitor lizards may empty their stomachs and defecate to lighten the body and improve maneuverability. Lizards also use this technique when running away from danger. The winner begins courtship with the female. In September, females are ready to lay eggs. However, in order to have offspring, females do not have to have a male.

Komodo dragons exhibit parthenogenesis. Females can lay unfertilized eggs without the participation of males. Only male cubs develop in them. Scientists suggest that this is how new colonies appear on islands previously free from monitor lizards. After tsunamis and storms, females washed up on deserted islands begin to lay eggs when complete absence males.

Female Komodo dragons choose bushes, sand and caves for laying. They camouflage their nests from predators who are ready to feast on monitor lizard eggs, and from the monitor lizards themselves. Incubation period laying lasts 7–8 months. Young reptiles spend most of their time in trees, where they are relatively protected from predators, including adult monitor lizards.

Natural enemies of Komodo dragons

In its natural environment, the monitor lizard has no enemies or competitors. The length and weight of the lizard make it practically invulnerable. The only and unsurpassed enemy of a monitor lizard can only be another monitor lizard.

Monitor lizards are cannibals. As observations of the life of the reptile have shown, 10% of the diet of the Komodo dragon consists of its relatives. In order to feast on its own kind, a giant lizard does not need a reason to kill. Fights between monitor lizards are not uncommon. They can begin because of territorial claims, because of the female, or simply because the monitor lizard has not obtained other food. All clarifications of relationships within the species end in bloody drama.

As a rule, older and experienced monitor lizards attack younger and weaker ones. The same thing happens with newborn lizards. Small monitor lizards can become food for their mothers. However, nature took care of protecting the monitor lizard cubs. Teenage monitor lizards spend the first few years of their lives in trees, hiding from their stronger and stronger brothers of the species.

In addition to the monitor lizard itself, it is threatened by two more serious enemies: natural disasters and humans. Earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions seriously affect the Komodo dragon population. A natural disaster can wipe out the population of a small island in a matter of hours.

For almost a century, man mercilessly exterminated the dragon. People from all over the world flocked to hunt the giant reptile. As a result, the animal population has been brought to a critical level.

Population and species status

Information on the population size and distribution of Varanus komodoensis has until recently been limited to early reports or surveys conducted over only part of the species' range. The Komodo dragon is a vulnerable species. Listed in the Red Book. The vulnerability of the species is due to poaching and tourism. Commercial interest in animal skins has put the species at risk of extinction.

The World Animal Fund estimates that the number of Komodo dragons in the wild is 6,000 lizards. The population is under protection and supervision. To preserve the species on the Lesser Sunda Islands, it was created national park. Park staff can accurately say how many lizards are in this moment on each of the 26 islands.

The largest colonies live on:

• Komodo -1700;
• Rinche -1300;
• Gili Motange-1000;
• Flores - 2000.

But it’s not just people who influence the state of the species. The habitat itself poses a serious threat. Volcanic activity, earthquakes, fires make the lizard's traditional habitat unsuitable for life. In 2013, the total population in the wild was estimated at 3,222 individuals, in 2014 - 3,092, in 2015 - 3,014.

A number of measures taken to increase the population have almost doubled the number of the species, but according to experts, this figure is still critically small.

Protection of Komodo dragons

People have taken a number of measures to protect and enhance the species. Hunting the Komodo dragon is prohibited by law. Some islands are closed to visitors. Protected areas from tourists have been organized where komodo lizards can live and reproduce in their natural habitat and atmosphere.

Understanding the importance of dragons and the state of the population as an endangered species, the Indonesian government issued a regulation to protect the lizards on Komodo Island in 1915. Indonesian authorities have decided to close the island to visitors.

The island is part national park. Measures to isolate it will help increase the population of the species. However, the final decision on stopping tourist access to Komodo must be made by the governor of East Nusa Tenggara province.

Authorities have not said how long Komodo will be closed to visitors and tourists. At the end of the isolation period, conclusions will be drawn about the effectiveness of the measure and the need to continue the experiment. In the meantime, unique monitor lizards are bred in captivity.

Zoologists have learned how to save Komodo dragon masonry. Eggs laid in the wild are collected and placed in incubators. Ripening and growing take place on mini-farms, where conditions close to natural are created. Individuals that are stronger and able to defend themselves are returned to natural environment a habitat. Currently, giant lizards have appeared outside of Indonesia. They can be found in more than 30 zoos around the world.

The threat of losing one of the most unique and rare animals is so great that the Indonesian government is ready to take the most extreme measures. Closing part of the islands of the archipelago may alleviate the plight of the Komodo dragon, but isolation is not enough. To save Indonesia's top predator from humans, it is necessary to protect its habitat, stop hunting it and gain the support of local residents.

He moves 4 times faster than a human, from the start developing a speed of 18 km/h. And this with a three-meter body and tail - it’s not for nothing that the Komodo dragon has the status of the most big lizard in the world.

Reptiles do not need to eat regularly to survive - once a month is enough for this. She sees her prey 300 meters away. He doesn’t particularly exhaust himself with hunting - there is no prey on the horizon, he will ruin human burials.

Ora the crocodile

The Komodo dragon is a reptile from the order Scaly. It received the status of the largest lizard in the world for its enormous size:

• length – 2.5-3 m;
• weight – 100-150 kg.

Scientists discovered the reptile on Komodo Island only in 1912. Several years earlier, local residents had repeatedly said that they had seen a dragon. They called it "ora" and "land crocodile".

Appearance

Male monitor lizards are 1.5 times larger than females - the sex of reptiles can only be identified by this characteristic.

Lizards have long, flattened heads, and their muzzles are elongated and rounded. The eyes are large, located on both sides of the head. The ears are large, but monitor lizards' hearing is imperfect - they cannot identify a low voice.

The jaws and throat of the largest lizard are so flexible that it swallows huge pieces of meat in a split second. Movable lower jaw and the stomach expands so much that the adult swallows the pig completely. This feature explains the impressive weight of the reptiles.

But there is another feature - the monitor lizard will easily vomit the contents of the stomach as soon as it senses danger. He will decrease in size and weight and hide from his pursuers.

The legs of the reptiles are bent - because of this, the bulky carcass seems pressed to the ground. Their claws are sharp, as befits predators. Large teeth are curved so as to dig deep into the victim and tear it to pieces.

The body of an adult monitor lizard is covered with bone chain mail - it gives the reptiles a resemblance to stones. The younger generation of lizards have brighter colors - green, blue, orange.

Food

The giant lizard is a predator, and accordingly, feeds on the meat of its victims. She dominates, attacking any animals and not disdaining carrion. Their diet contains:

• pigs;
• deer;
• lizards;
• buffalos.

Juveniles feed on insects and snakes, and sometimes catch birds.

Hunting

Reptiles identify prey long before the hunt begins, sniffing the air and analyzing the odors in it. For this purpose, nature has endowed predators with a forked tongue, with which they taste the air and feel the taste of the animal or carrion, their location.

At this time, future prey can be located at a distance of up to 4 km from the monitor lizard - it will pick up its smell and direction if the wind is fair.

Patience is one of the virtues of the heaviest lizard in the world. She lies in wait for prey for hours, sometimes for days. As soon as the animal is nearby, the reptile attacks it, breaking its legs with its powerful tail.

The victim is doomed - an attempt to escape leads to the fact that a huge camouflage carcass will tear it apart until it goes limp. After which the monitor lizard will exhale and rip open the belly of the prey to drain the blood. Only then will he begin to swallow the meat.

Toxicity

A few victims manage to escape, but they do not live long. There are more than 50 types of bacteria in reptile saliva, and the jaw glands are poisonous. When a giant lizard attacks a pig or other artiodactyls, a secretion is released into its saliva. The protein in the secretion is toxic - it paralyzes muscles, disrupts blood clotting, and sharply reduces blood pressure and body temperature.

The animal suffers from several hours to several days, depending on immunity and the degree of blood poisoning, and then dies. All this time the monitor lizard follows the traces of his sense of smell behind the victim. Once she dies, he eats the carrion. Not even a tenth of the carcass remains - the stomach of reptiles is designed in such a way that it easily digests bones and skin.

Reproduction

The mating season for the largest lizards begins in May and ends in August. Two males can fight for a female - the winner gets it. After mating games the female lays up to 30 eggs, and the male guards the territory.

Monitor lizards are born weighing about 100 g and no more than 40 cm long. For the first 4 years they live in trees, escaping from predators. Among the latter may be their parents, because there is no evidence that adult reptiles care for their offspring.

The young individual, sensing danger, makes itself unpalatable to the lizards. To do this, she collapses in own feces – known fact that monitor lizards avoid their excrement.

Where do they live?

The reptiles live on Komodo and 4 neighboring islands. They are comfortable in deciduous and tropical forests, but reptiles cannot tolerate heat. At temperatures above +36 degrees they hide in burrows. They bask in burrows if the temperature drops below +33-34 degrees.

Giant lizards avoid meeting people, and people are prohibited from hunting them, because the exotic reptiles are under state protection.