The Komodo Islands

The Komodo Islands are part of Indonesian island chain. They are most famous for the Komodo dragons. The Komodo dragon is a good example of how a species evolved in an unusual way on an island. It became a giant! The Komodo dragon (waranus komodoenis) is literally a living dinosaur.  At 300 lbs and 10 ft long, these are the biggest lizards in the world.  Komodo dragons turn into cannibals and eat their eggs to control their population.  However, since they are endangered, it is not the smartest thing to do.

Komodo dragons have a nasty reputation of being man-eaters.  Actually, they only eat deer, pigs, monkeys, and other dragons.  Although they do not eat people, they are very deadly.  Their bite has enough bacteria to kill over 2000 rodents.  Their teeth have razor sharp points.  If not treated, one bite can kill. Komodo dragons only live in the Komodo Islands. One of the islands, Komodo National Park, has been turned into a komodo dragon reserve. The native Indians think that the komodo brings good luck.

Komodo Dragons on Komodo Island

Komodo Dragon Facts

Average size 7.5 ft.

Average weight: 100 lbs.

Maximum size: 10 ft.

Maximum weight: 300 lbs.

The dhole, another fascinating creature, is a type of dog that lives on the Komodo Islands. It is endangered because of people hunting it in the past. The dhole has some extraordinary vocal calls. It can whistle, scream, and even cluck like a chicken.  It also hunts in packs.  It forms packs of over 40 dholes! It breeds communally with most pack members helping to feed or guard the pups.  When hunting as a pack it can subdue prey up to 30 times its own body weight, and can even fend off a tiger!  It inhabits a variety of habitats from tropical rain forest and dry-deciduous jungle, to cold alpine forest and open plains.  It’s also an excellent swimmer and often drives its prey into water.

• the dhole has some extraordinary vocal calls - it can whistle, scream, and even cluck like a chicken!
• sometimes it forms temporary packs of over 40 animals
• it breeds communally with most pack members helping to feed or guard the pups
• when hunting as a pack it can subdue prey up to 30 times its own body weight, and can even fend off a tiger!
• it exploits a variety of habitats from tropical rain forest and dry-deciduous jungle, to cold alpine forest and open plains
• it's an excellent swimmer and often drives its prey into water

Some species on the Komodo Islands have become extinct. Archaeologists found fossils of pygmy elephants that are not found on the islands today. Biogeographers think that the Komodo dragon evolved and became much larger than normal so they could attack and eat the pygmy elephant