Komodo Dragon Facts & Information

Yet another "first" was reached on October 20th when the Palm Beach Zoo's first ever male Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) "Satu" arrived from the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, Minnesota. The arrival of this male is in accordance with the Komodo Dragon Species Survival Plan breeding recommendations. After a brief quarantine in the Salvatore M. Zeitlin Animal Hospital, "Satu" began spending nights in the holding facility near "Hannah," our female Komodo dragon. The pairing of "Hannah" and "Satu" is a huge opportunity for the zoo because there are very few breeding pairs of Komodo dragons in North America. This is the first time that "Satu" has ever been in an outdoor enclosure and is enjoying the warm Florida climate. Typically, male Komodo dragons can reach up to ten feet in length and be as heavy as 330 pounds. Due to their restricted range and the effects of poaching and human encroachment, Komodo dragons are considered an endangered species.

Scientific Name: Varanus komodoensis
Family: Varanidae
Order: Squamata

RANGE: Found in the lesser Sunda region of the Indonesian archipelago, including the islands of Komodo, Flores, Rinca, and Padar.
HABITAT: Young Komodo dragons are arboreal and live in forested regions; adults live mainly in tropical savannah forests, but are also found on beaches, ridge tops, and dry river beds. Adults spend most of their time on the ground.
DIET: Adults eat carrion, but will attack prey such as goats, pigs, deer, wild boar, horses, water buffalo and even smaller Komodo dragons. Juveniles feed on grasshoppers, beetles, small geckos, eggs, and birds.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:: Size: Komodo dragons can reach over 9 feet in length and weigh over 350 pounds. Extremely large Komodo dragons can weigh as much as 550 pounds. Females are smaller than males, reaching 7 ½ feet on average and weigh roughly 150 pounds.; Coloration: Juveniles are usually green with yellow and black bands. Adults are dull and uniform in color, from brown to grayish red.; Reproduction: They become sexually mature between 5 – 10 years of age, and mating season lasts from May through August. Females lay up to 30 eggs that gestate for about 8 months. She digs a nest hole in warm, moist ground and buries the eggs to incubate. She then leaves the nest unattended and does not care for the hatchlings. The young are 8 inches long when hatched and can grow to 6 feet in 5 years.; Longevity: Many fall prey to other animals as hatchlings. Those that survive to adulthood are thought to have a life span ranging from 30 to 50 years, but research is ongoing.

RELATED SPECIES:

Komodo dragons are in the same family as other monitor lizards.
There are 54 different species of monitors.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

The Komodo dragon is the largest of not only the monitor lizards, but all lizard species.
It is also known as the “Komodo Island Monitor,” or by the local Indonesian name, "ora."
Komodo dragons are diurnal, have good eyesight, a 16-inch long tongue, and ½ inch long teeth.
Primarily ground dwellers, Komodos are also good swimmers and occasionally climb trees.
They have powerful legs, can run faster than humans over short distances, and have been known even to attack humans.
Komodos are usually solitary, but have been seen coming together to breed and feed on large carrion.
They were not discovered until 1912.
Only a few zoos have Komodo dragons on display.

ZOO COLLECTION:

0.1, ‘Hannibal’ aka “Hanna”. Born Oct 14, 1998. Obtained from Miami Metro Zoo in February 2009.

CONSERVATION INFORMATION:

Komodo dragons are classified as ENDANGERED due to prey depletion, poaching, and habitat encroachment.