Komodo Dragon
(Varanus komodoensis)
Facts
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IUCN VULNERABLE (VU)
Facts about this animal
The Komodo Dragon can grow up to a total length of about 3 m. In large adults the dorsal surface is uniformly brown or greyish-brown. The chest bars are light grey to absent. The belly is grey with faint speckling and it has a yellow tongue. The scales on the head are round, large and slightly raised. The scales of the tail and the body are strongly, the scales of the ventral part feebly keeled. The tail is about the same length as the head and the body and compressed.
Did you know?
that the Komodo dragons, or "land crocodile" as they are called by locals, are the largest living lizards? The largest male ever recorded reached a length of 3.13 m and weighed 166 kg. This may,however, have included a substantial amount of undigested food.
| Factsheet | |
|---|---|
| Class | REPTILIA |
| Order | SQUAMATA |
| Suborder | SAURIA (AUTARCHOGLOSSA) |
| Family | VARANIDAE |
| Name (Scientific) | Varanus komodoensis |
| Name (English) | Komodo Dragon |
| Name (French) | Dragon de Komodo, Varan des Komodos |
| Name (German) | Komodowaran |
| Name (Spanish) | Varano de Komodo |
| Local names | Indonesia: ora |
| CITES Status | Appendix I |
| CMS Status | Not listed |
Photo Copyright by
Raul654
Distribution
| Distribution | |
|---|---|
| Range | Indonesia |
| Habitat | Tropical deciduous forest and savannah |
| Wild population | Approx. 5'700 |
| Zoo population | 105 reported to ISIS (2005) |
In the Zoo
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How this animal should be transported
For air transport, Container Note 41 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.
Find this animal on ZooLex
Photo Copyright by
Midori
Why do zoos keep this animal
With island populations of not more than 5700 animals, the Komodo dragon is a highly vulnerable species. With a view of building up a reserve population, an International Studbook has been established under the WAZA umbrella, and coordinated conservation breeding programmes are operated at the regional level by ARAZPA, AZA and EAZA.
Being the largest of all lizards, the Komodo dragon has of course also a considerable educational value.