komodo dragon

the komodo dragon ( varanus komodoensis ) is a species of lizard that inhabits the island of komodo,rinca,flores,gili motang,and gili dasami,in central indonesia.a member of the monitor lizard family (varanidae ).it is the largest living species of lizard,growing to an average length of 2 to 3 metres ( 6.6 to 9.8 ft ) and weighing around 70 kg ( 150 lb ).their unusual size is atribute to island gigantism.since there are no carnivorous animals to fill the niche on the island where they live.and also to the komodo dragons low metabolic rate as result of their size.these lizard are apex predators dominating the ecosystem in which they live.although komodo dragons eat mostly carrion,they will also hunt and ambush prey including invertebrates,birds,and mammals.mating begins between may and august,and the egg are laid in september.about twenty eggs are deposites in abandoned megapode nest and incubated for seven to eight month,hatching in april when insect most plentiful.young komodo dragons vulnerable and there for dwell im trees,safe from predators and cannibalistic adult.they take around three to five years to mature,and may live as long as fifty years.they are capable of parthenogenesis,in which viable eggs are laid without fertilization by a male.komodo dragons were discovered by western scientists in 1910.their large size and fearsome reputation makes them popular zoo exhibits .in the wild their range has contracted due to human activities and they are listed as vulnerable by the iucn,they are protected under indonesia law and a national park,komodo national park was founded to aid protection effants.