When in groups, the largest male is dominant he will feed first and get first choice of females.ĭuring the mating season, males fight over territory and mates, scenting the air with their tongues to track nearby females. Komodo dragons are solitary creatures, but they will group together to feed and mate. As a result, the Komodo dragon is now protected by Indonesian law, and the Isle of Komodo has been declared a National Park in order to help with its conservation. They are also threatened by volcanic activity on the islands, which can rapidly kill many dragons, destroying their nests at the same time. The species is classified as vulnerable endangered due to habitat loss, human encroachment into their environments, and because of mankind's overhunting of the deer that are their preferred prey. Although they appear slow, the dragons can run up to 12mph when chasing prey. The males reach an average length of 2.59m and usually weigh between 79 and 91kg, whereas the females are smaller, averaging 2.29m long and between 68 and 73kg.Ī Komodo dragon's walk is very distinctive, moving its limbs far out from its body and swaying from side to side as it moves. They are a dull green-brown in colour with wide set limbs with a wide gape, have a long, muscular tail, and a yellow forked tongue. The Komodo dragon (or Varanus komodoensis) is a large species of reptile that lives on the Indonesian isles of Komodo, Rinca, Flores and Gili Motang.

The Komodo Dragon ( Varanus komodoensis) is a large Asian lizard featured in the Deluxe Edition of Planet Zoo.

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