capacity due to a heart that is considerably more
advanced than most other reptiles. Varanids are also
unusual in that the overall body plan remains remarkably
consistent across the group, despite a huge range in size
(the smallest extant species is V. brevicauda, with a total
length of only about 20cm). In fact, although the
Komodo Dragon is currently the largest lizard on Earth,
it is dwarfed by a closely-related species from eastern
Australia, V. priscus, which is estimated to have
measured six metres in total length and weighed over 600
kilograms. This giant is known from fossil specimens and
is thought to have become extinct some 20,000-50,000
years ago.
Komodo Dragons or ‘Ora’, as the natives call
them, are only found on the Indonesian islands of
Komodo and Rinca, plus the westernmost part of
Flores and a few other small islands in the
vicinity. Whilst many of the other islands in the
Nusa Tenggara chain are covered with lush jungle,
Komodo and Rinca are barren, dry, hot and hilly,
with sparse vegetation and only patches of wet
forest in some of the higher valleys. The lizards
emerge from their burrows very early in the
morning to take advantage of the first of the sun’s
rays. Basking occupies highest priority in the
morning, and this is followed by increased activity
in the afternoon; low vegetation or other cover is used for
shelter during the hottest part of the day. Komodo
Dragons are solitary animals, joining one another only
for the purposes of mating and feeding. They navigate
and locate food items by smell; using their long, forked
tongues that pick up scent particles as they flick up and
down through the air. The dragons’ hearing and vision
are not very good, particularly when it comes to station-
ary objects.
The giant lizards’ diet consists chiefly of large prey items
such as deer, pigs, monkeys, horses, water buffalos and
other mammals, but they are not too fussy and will also
eat small invertebrates, other reptiles and carrion.
Records of Komodo Dragons eating human carcasses
also exist. Live prey is usually dispatched quickly by
biting and tearing chunks of flesh with their powerful
jaws, but the dragons also possess another lethal weapon
– venom! Latest research (2009) suggests that they have
venom glands which produce powerful toxins that lower
‘D IET CONSISTS CHIEFLY OF
LARGER MAMMALS , BUT THE
GIANT LIZARDS ARE NOT TOO
FUSSY ....’
blood pressure, cause profuse bleeding and prevent clot-
ting. So the long-accepted theory that Komodo Dragons
kill by a cocktail of at least 15 strains of virulent bacteria
present in their saliva is a myth.
Although the venom (along with the bite) sends the
Below left: Komodo Dragons are only found on the
Indonesian islands of Komodo and Rinca, part of Flores and
a few other small islets.
Main: Komodo and Rinca are barren, hot, dry and hilly.
This is one of the many beautiful bays around Rinca Island.
All images by Michael Cermak.