LO R E N G A L L I M O R E

KOMODO DRAGON

VARANUS KOMODOENSISHabitat

• tropical savanna forests• at night, sleep in borrows

to escape the heat

Fact:Komodo dragons are usually unsuccessful in bringing down their prey, but if they are able to bite the animal, the animal will eventually die from the bacteria in its saliva.

DIET

• any kind of meat• Scavenge from carcasses• Stalk animals from small rodents to large buffalo• Sometimes cannibalistic

Fact:A kill is usually shared by many Komodo dragons and very little is wasted. They leave only about 12% of the prey.

FACTORS OF THE KOMODO DRAGON• Largest living lizard

• Reaches a length of 10 feet• Weighs about 150

pounds• Hot habitats of 95°F• Solitary animals

Sexual Maturity- Males: 10 years- Females: 9 years• Lay eggs in

September• Produce up to 30

eggs• Mate twice a year

Fact:The largest verified specimen reached a length of 10.3 feet and weighed up to 366 pounds.

ENDANGERMENT

• Limited range• Legal and illegal

hunting• Poisonous carrion

bait• 3,000 to 5,000 left• Natural disasters• Illegal trafficking/

black market Fact:Komodo dragons may live about 30 years in the wild, but scientists are still studying this.

PROTECTION EFFORTS

• 1915 – protection plans enforced by Dutch government• 1980 – Komodo

National Park (KNP)• Strict anti-poaching

laws

Fact:Komodo dragons keep the same mate throughout its entire lifetime.

1

Where are Komodo dragons mainly located?A. JapanB. Islands of IndonesiaC. West Coast of AmericaD. Asia

2

Which of the following is not true about Komodo dragons?A. There are only about three to five thousand

Komodo dragons left.B. They sometimes eat their own young.C. Animals that are prey to the Komodo dragon

usually die from their venom.D. Komodo dragons are the largest lizard in the

world

3

About how many eggs do female Komodo dragons lay?A. 30B. 40C. 20D. 15

4

How much does a full size Komodo dragon weigh?A. 250 poundsB. 200 poundsC. 150 poundsD. 100 pounds

5

Which is true about Komodo dragons?A. Komodo dragons prefer cold temperaturesB. A full size female Komodo can reach a length of

12 feetC. Komodo dragons are located in JapanD. They keep the same mate their whole life

INDIANA BAT

VIRGINIA NORTHERN FLYING SQUIRREL

SHENANDOAH SALAMANDER

WORKS CITED• h

ttp://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/reptilesamphibians/facts/factsheets/komododragon.cfm

• http://www.earthtimes.org/encyclopaedia/environmental-issues/komodo-dragon/

• http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/komodo-dragon• http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Varanus_komodoensis/• http://reptilis.net/lacertilia/varanidae/komodo.html• http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/komodo-drag

on/

• http://www.zoo.org/page.aspx?pid=1944#.VO4c2PnF_QQ• http://

gifts.worldwildlife.org/gift-center/gifts/Species-Adoptions/Komodo-Dragon.aspx

• http://www.fws.gov/Midwest/endangered/permits/hcp/FowlerRidge/index.html

• http://vtpp.ext.vt.edu/pesticide-safety-education-program/endangered-species-and-pesticide-regulation/virginia-endangered-species-list

• http://www.animalspot.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/NORTHERN-FLYING-SQUIRREL-2.jpg

• http://nationalzoo.si.edu/SCBI/SpeciesSurvival/AmphibianConservation/salamander/savingshenandoah.cfm

• http://online.sfsu.edu/bholzman/courses/Spring99Projects/komodo.htm