Komodo Dragon: the Largest Species of Lizard

Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis), also referred to as ora, buaya darat (land crocodile) or biawak raksasa (giant monitor) are the largest living lizards on earth. Komodo can grow to a length of 10 feet (over 3 meters), with average length of 8 feet (2.5 meters) and weight of 200 lbs (91 kg.). Females are usually under 8 feet and weigh about 150 lbs. (68 kg.). They have long, flat heads with rounded snouts, scaly skin, bowed legs, and huge, muscular tails. Komodo dragons can run up to 11 miles an hour (approximately 18 kilometers per hour) in short bursts. Their large size and fearsome reputation make them popular zoo exhibits.

The distribution of Komodo dragons is restricted to the islands of Rinca, Komodo, Flores and the smaller islands of Gili, Montang and Padar. All located in Indonesia. Komodo dragons have thrived in the harsh climate of those Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands for millions of years, although amazingly, their existence was unknown to humans until about 100 years ago.

Komodo dragons were first discovered by Western scientists in 1910. The giant lizard first documented after rumors of a "land crocodile" reached Lieutenant van Steyn van Hensbroek of the Dutch colonial administration.

Peter Ouwens, the director of the Zoological Museum at Bogor, Java, published a paper on the topic on 1912 after receiving a photo and a skin from Lieutenant van Steyn van Hensbroek, as well as two other specimens from a collector. In 1926 the Komodo dragon was the driving factor for W. Douglas Burden expedition to Komodo Island. The expedition return with 12 preserved specimens and 2 live ones. It was Burden who coined the common name "Komodo dragon." Burden expedition also provided the inspiration for the 1933 movie King Kong.

As the dominant predators in the ecosystems in which they live, komodo dragon will eat almost everything, including carrion (dead and decaying flesh) of deer, pigs, smaller komodo dragons, or even bring down an adult water buffalo and humans. Komodo dragon saliva teems with over 50 strains of bacteria, poisoning the stricken creature's blood within 24 hours. Komodo dragons calmly follow an escapee for miles as the bacteria takes effect, using their keen sense of smell to hone in on the corpse. With the help of a favorable wind and its habit of swinging its head from side to side as it walks, komodo dragons may be able to detect carrion from 4–9.5 kilometres (2.5–6 mi) away.

The Komodo dragon is a vulnerable species and is found on the IUCN Red List. Volcanic activity, earthquakes, loss of habitat, fire, loss of prey, and tourism have all contributed to the vulnerable status of the Komodo dragon. There is a stable population of about 3,000 to 5,000 Komodo dragons on the islands of Komodo, Gili Motang, Gili Dasami, Rinca, and Flores. The Komodo National Park was founded in 1980 to protect Komodo dragon populations on islands including Komodo, Rinca, and Padar.