Komodo dragon: mega-lizards capable of taking down a buffalo (12 photos)

An adult Komodo dragon is the largest lizard of our time. Its weight reaches 90 kg, and the length of its powerful body is up to 2.5 meters.





The living embodiment of horror is already here.

Several Indonesian islands are under the heel of the reptilian: Komodo, Rinca, Flores and Gili Motang. On each of them, the monitor lizard established absolute power, which the local inhabitants have not been able to overthrow for 1.5 million years.



This is what it means to touch the primeval past.

The giant reptile hunts deer and wild pigs alone, the weight of which reaches 180 and 300 kilograms, respectively. But this is far from the maximum. At least one case has been recorded when a large lizard successfully went for a buffalo weighing a ton.





I wonder why this dinner came so close to me? I won't even have to catch up with it!

The reptile attacks from an ambush. With a powerful jerk, it accelerates to 20 km/h. Then it grabs the prey by the legs or throat, knocking the wind out of it. As a result, the Indonesian dragon kills a victim the size of a pig in a matter of seconds.

Even if the hunt fails, the animal will still be doomed. In the 80s of the last century, scientists recorded 17 attacks of monitor lizards on deer and wild boars. Only 5 animals managed to escape alive, but 3 of them died a few hours later and became dinner for other monitor lizards. Only by 2009, scientists found out that the "survived" animals died not only from severe wounds, but also from the poison dissolved in the saliva of the predator. This poison, although not very strong, is capable of paralyzing the muscles of an animal weakened by blood loss.

As if that were not enough, a bite of a Komodo dragon also causes sepsis! Several strains of bacteria living in the mouth of the animal produce extremely unpleasant toxins and are capable of multiplying in the wounds of other animals. In other words, the result is one: all roads lead to the table of the reptilian tyrant.



Here he is, a worthy opponent! Our battle will be legendary!

The lizard does not disdain rotten carrion either. Moreover, on the island of Komodo, the animals dig up human graves if they are not very deep. To prevent the monitor lizard from plundering cemeteries, local residents arrange them on clay soils. Where it will be difficult for the indefatigable troglodyte to dig.



When you snatched KFC legs on sale.

In one meal, the largest lizard on the planet can swallow a victim whose weight reaches up to 80% of the monitor lizard's own. If the meal is relatively small - the size of a goat - the monitor lizard will swallow it whole. The elastic bones of the skull will flexibly move apart to let the food in. Sometimes a large piece goes down the throat with difficulty and for a long time. The same toxic saliva helps speed up the process. It partially digests the food already in the throat, and it gets into the stomach faster.



What do I care about this goat? It's worth one bite!

But even after the feast, bloody saliva drips for a long time on the dry and hot ground of the Indonesian islands. And it is red not only from the blood of the victim, but also from the blood of the lizard itself. In the mouth of the monitor lizard there are 60 serrated teeth, the edge of which is reinforced with enamel with the addition of iron. They have no roots, so they regularly fall out and are replaced by new ones. Young teeth are almost entirely covered with gums, the peeling of which is accompanied by minor bleeding.



Perfect teeth for a perfect butcher.

As you understand, the Komodo dragon has no natural enemies. Except for other monitor lizards. These reptiles do not know empathy or care for their offspring. One lizard perceives another either as a potential threat or as prey.

The monitor lizard protects itself from its relatives with three things: its size, powerful claws and chain mail. Under the lizard's skin there are hundreds of osteoderms - small bones that do not restrict movement, but protect even from serious blows. With age, the osteoderms become larger and thicker, which means it is more difficult to defeat an old monitor lizard.



Fights between adult males are a stunning spectacle. Dust and dirt fly in all directions under the onslaught of heavy carcasses.

The breeding season changes things, but not much. The love season lasts from May to August. During this time, Indonesian dragons fight for territory and the attention of the female. However, no one asks the female about her choice. The winner takes his own by force: immobilizes the partner so as not to get hurt, and does his job.



Everyone needs hugs. Even such cold-blooded reptiles!

The female does not care about the eggs. Her babies will be looked after by... birds! In one study, 60% of Komodo dragon clutches were laid in the nests of local birds: orange megapodes and garbage hens. Both are caring parents. For reptilian babies, these are excellent nannies, because newborn lizards are completely defenseless. To become a true ruler, a young monitor lizard will need 8 years!



In total, the female lays up to 20 eggs. From them, "crumbs" up to half a meter in size emerge!

All the primeval power described above coexists with a primitive structure of the nervous system. There is no room in the ancient brain to process large amounts of information, so the monitor lizard's senses are poorly developed. The eyes do not distinguish colors well, do not fixate on stationary objects. The ears do not perceive quiet sounds, such as a whisper or the rustle of grass. Taste buds are enough only to distinguish edible from inedible. And dense skin that protects against cuts has low sensitivity. Truly - an insensitive reptile.



If you pretend to be a pebble, it will go away... Both the man and the monitor lizard thought.

But the power of smell borders on extrasensory perception. With the help of receptors in the nose and on the tip of the forked tongue, the predator finds prey in the immediate vicinity purely by smell. And carrion - at a distance of up to 10 kilometers!



I can smell you.

And only people are able to resist the tyranny of the reptilian. Yes, Komodo dragons are capable of attacking a person and even eating him. But despite this, the predator that lives by the laws of ancient times is dying out. There are only 3,500 adult Komodo dragons in the world. And that's only because people came to their senses and did not destroy the unique animals.