The Komodo dragon ( Varanus komodoensis ), also known as the Komodo monitor, is a large species of lizard found in the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang and Padar.

The Komodo dragon is also known as the Komodo monitor or the Komodo Island monitor in scientific literature, although this is not very common.

The evolutionary development of the Komodo dragon started with the Varanus genus, which originated in Asia about 40 million years ago and migrated to Australia.

The Komodo dragon was believed to have differentiated from its Australian ancestors 4 million years ago.

However, recent fossil evidence from Queensland suggests that the Komodo dragon evolved in Australia before spreading to Indonesia.

Dramatic lowering of sea level during the last glacial period uncovered extensive stretches of continental shelf that the Komodo dragon colonized, becoming isolated in their present island range as sea levels rose afterwards.

In the wild, an adult Komodo dragon usually weighs around, although captive specimens often weigh more.

The Komodo dragon has a tail as long as its body, as well as about 60 frequently replaced serrated teeth that can measure up to in length.

The Komodo dragon does not have an acute sense of hearing, despite its visible earholes, and is only able to hear sounds between 400 and 2000 hertz.

The Komodo dragon is able to see in color, but has poor visual discrimination of stationary objects.

The Komodo dragon uses its tongue to detect, taste, and smell stimuli, as with many other reptiles, with the vomeronasal sense using the Jacobson's organ, rather than using the nostrils.

The Komodo dragon was formerly thought to be deaf when a study reported no agitation in wild Komodo dragons in response to whispers, raised voices, or shouts.

The Komodo dragon prefers hot and dry places, and typically lives in dry open grassland, savanna, and tropical forest at low elevations.

To catch prey that is out of reach, the Komodo dragon may stand on its hind legs and use its tail as a support.

As the Komodo dragon matures, its claws are used primarily as weapons, as its great size makes climbing impractical.

For shelter, the Komodo dragon digs holes that can measure from 1 – 3 metres ( 3 – 10 ft ) wide with its powerful forelimbs and claws.

The Komodo dragon hunts in the afternoon, but stays in the shade during the hottest part of the day.

After digestion, the Komodo dragon regurgitates a mass of horns, hair, and teeth known as the gastric pellet, which is covered in malodorous mucus.

A young Komodo dragon photographed on Rinca feeding on a water buffalo carcass

However, recent research suggests that the large size of Komodo dragons may be better understood as representative of a relict population of very large varanid lizards that once lived across Indonesia and Australia, most of which, along with other megafauna, died out after the Pleistocene.

With the help of a favorable wind and its habit of swinging its head from side to side as it walks, Komodo dragons may be able to detect carrion from away.

The Komodo dragon may have evolved to feed on the extinct dwarf elephant Stegodon that once lived on Flores, according to evolutionary biologist Jared Diamond.

Even if the lizards have venomlike proteins in their mouths, Schwenk argues, they may be using them for a different function, and he doubts that venom is necessary to explain the effect of a Komodo dragon bite, arguing that shock and blood loss are the primary factors.

Komodo dragons may be monogamous and form " pair bonds ", a rare behavior for lizards.

Komodo dragons take about three to five years to mature, and may live for up to 50 years.

*** While the largest extant lizard, the Komodo dragon ( Varanus komodoensis ), another island giant, can reach in length, its extinct Australian relative Megalania may have reached more than twice that size.

Bites on human digits by a lace monitor ( V. varius ), a Komodo dragon, and a spotted tree monitor ( V. scalaris ) all produced similar effects: rapid swelling, localized disruption of blood clotting, and shooting pain up to the elbow, with some symptoms lasting for several hours.

Komodo is one of the 17, 508 islands that make up the Republic of Indonesia.

Komodo and Firestar quickly broke it up.

Bites on human digits by a Lace Monitor ( Varanus varius ), a Komodo Dragon ( V. komodoensis ) and a Spotted Tree Monitor ( V. scalaris ) have been observed and all produced similar results in humans: rapid swelling within minutes, localised disruption of blood clotting, shooting pain up to the elbow, with some symptoms lasting for several hours.

Waking up hours later, Leonardo managed to free Leatherhead and the two, with help from Michelangelo and Casey Jones managed to defeat King Komodo.

Copious amounts of red saliva that the Komodo dragons produce help to lubricate the food, but swallowing is still a long process ( 15 – 20 minutes to swallow a goat ).

The Komodo dragon drinks by sucking water into its mouth via buccal pumping ( a process also used for respiration ), lifting its head, and letting the water run down its throat.

Komodo dragons were first recorded by Western scientists in 1910.

Komodo dragons eat by tearing large chunks of flesh and swallowing them whole while holding the carcass down with their forelegs.

Saliva samples were analyzed by researchers at the University of Texas who found 57 strains of bacteria growing in the mouths of three wild Komodo dragons including Pasteurella multocida.

This study supported the observation that wounds inflicted by the Komodo dragon are often associated with sepsis and subsequent infections in prey animals.

How the Komodo dragon is unaffected by these virulent bacteria remains a mystery.

Komodo dragon coin, issued by Indonesia

Komodo dragons were first documented by Europeans in 1910, when rumors of a " land crocodile " reached Lieutenant van Steyn van Hensbroek of the Dutch colonial administration.

Later, the Komodo dragon was the driving factor for an expedition to Komodo Island by W. Douglas Burden in 1926.

Although there are anecdotes of unprovoked Komodo dragons attacking or preying on humans, most of these reports are either not reputable or caused by defensive bites.

Studies done by Walter Auffenberg, which were documented in his book The Behavioral Ecology of the Komodo Monitor, eventually allowed for more successful managing and reproducing of the dragons in captivity.

In June 2001, a Komodo dragon seriously injured Phil Bronstein, the then husband of actress Sharon Stone, when he entered its enclosure at the Los Angeles Zoo after being invited in by its keeper.

A central role for venom in predation by Varanus komodoensis ( Komodo Dragon ) and the extinct giant Varanus ( Megalania ) priscus.

A predator at the top of any food chain ( that is, one that is preyed upon by no organism ) is called an apex predator ; examples include the orca, sperm whale, anaconda, Komodo dragon, tiger, lion, tiger shark, Nile crocodile, and most eagles -- and even omnivorous humans and grizzly bears.

The studio's head of production, Merian C. Cooper, had recommended the cancellation of O ' Brien's project as he thought the story was boring but he was impressed by the effects work and saw how it could be used to facilitate the development of his own pet project about a giant gorilla battling Komodo dragons.

This group attempts to rob Baily's Auction House but are interrupted by Spider-Man and then Initiative members War Machine and Komodo.

Only Bali was part of the Ice Age continent of Sundaland, separated by the Lombok Strait from a 400-mile-long island including present-day Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo, Flores, Solor, Adonara, and Lembata.

* albidus described by Stresemann in 1912-found in Sulawesi, Bali and W Lesser Sundas ( Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo, Padar, Rinca, Flores, Sumba ).

Along with Constrictor, Bengal, Typhoid Mary and Komodo, Taskmaster stealthily leads the group into the country, but they are soon discovered by HYDRA.

In 1998, the zoo opened Chimpanzees of the Mahale Mountains, followed by Red Ape RainForest in 2000, the Komodo Dragon Exhibit, the Winnick Family Children Zoo in 2001, the Entry Plaza, Children's Discovery Center and Sea Lion Cliffs ( now Sea Life Cliffs ) in 2005, Campo Gorilla Reserve in November 2007, Elephants of Asia in the winter of 2010, and the LAIR ( Living Amphibians, Invertebrates, and Reptiles ) in 2012.

Cooper was fascinated by Burdens adventures as chronicled in his book Dragon Lizards of Komodo where he referred to the animal as the " King of Komodo ".