Komodo Islands
This is the story of the dragon. Not just a legend, but actually a dragon which still inhabit the Indonesian archipelago east and central parts. Giant reptiles of the world has a reputation as a top predator in its class.
Since the first on the island of Komodo, Flores Island ranks, Indonesia, has emerged the story of a giant dragon. Many sailors who tells that the dragon is more like a scary monster.
Large tail can knock down a buffalo with a single flick. His jaw large and strong, so capable of swallowing a wild pig in one motion. And from his mouth always fire.
This story has circulated widely and could attract the attention of many people. But no one had ever dared to approach the island to prove it. Until finally in the early 1910s, came the report of the combat force Dutch fleet based in Flores about the mysterious creature allegedly "dragon" inhabits a small island in the Lesser Sunda Islands (now ranks Islands Flores, East Nusa Tenggara).
Dutch military sailors gave a report that the creature is likely to be measuring up to seven meters in length, with a giant body and a mouth that always fire. Lieutenant Steyn van Hensbroek, an official of the Dutch colonial administration in the region of Flores heard these reports and stories that surround the island of Komodo. He also planned a trip to Komodo Island.
Having armed himself and took a team of trained soldiers, he landed on the island. After a few days on the island, managed to kill one Hensbroek strange species.
He took him to headquarters and length measurements were taken that catch length about 2.1 meters. The shape is very much like a lizard. Animals were then photographed (documented) by Peter A Ouwens, director of the Zoological Museum and Botanical Gardens Bogor, Java. This is the first documentation of the Komodo dragon.
Ouwens interested in finding these strange animals. He then recruited a cunning hunter to capture specimens for him. The hunter managed to kill two sized komodo 3.1 meters and 3.35 meters, plus the capture of two chicks, each measuring one meter below.
Based on the catch of the hunters, Ouwens conduct research and concluded that the komodo dragon is not a flamethrower, but including the type of monitor lizard (monitor lizard) in the reptile class.
The results of this study later published in a newspaper published in 1912. In that proclamation, Ouwens give advice on the name of the giant lizard Varanus komodoensis nickname instead Komodo Dragon (Komodo Dragon).
Realizing the significance of the endangered species komodo, the Dutch government issued a regulation and protection of Komodo Island Komodo dragon in 1915. Be the first region as a Komodo dragon conservation area.
Findings komodo dragon as a living legend, curious world. Several scientific expeditions from different countries take turns doing research on the island of Komodo.
Prehistoric Animals who Survived
After World War I, a scientific expedition designed to conduct research komodo. In 1926, the expedition led by W. Douglas Burden of the American Museum of Natural History with the most modern research tools, doing research for months.
The expedition which involved dozens of people were arrested 27 Komodo dragon's tail. They perform surgical anatomy and identification of species. From this first scientific reports about the Komodo dragon is made complete.
Described that the Komodo dragon has a big head and strong, has a pair of shining eyes, her skin was hard, thick and wiry. Kelambir have skin under her neck wrinkles.
It looked like a lizard, with four legs and a big fat tail that is also a big fat long. Has 26 sharp teeth, each measuring 4 cm, has a forked tongue bright red. When viewed from a distance, the tongue is extended to resemble a fire, because the Komodo dragon is often stuck out his tongue like a snake.
Komodo also excellent hunters. He relies bites and poison the bacteria in saliva to paralyze their prey. He will follow prey that have been hurt for days, until death, then he ate it. As a carnivore and scavenger (carrion), komodo dragons are only found on the island of Komodo, Rinca Island, the island of Padar, Gili Motang, Owadi and Samiin. Komodo dragons are also known as a good animal to swim. That's how he did explore the islands around Flores.
Fossils
Meanwhile, in the mid-20th century, in Australia found fossils of ancient creatures that once studied very similar to the Komodo dragon. Based on tests of carbon, the fossil was believed to have originated from the period 60-30 million years ago. This means that the Komodo dragon ever to inhabit the Australian continent in prehistoric times.
But researchers are still puzzled by the relationship with the fossil Komodo Island Komodo dragon from Australia. Although the geological history of Earth indicates that the former Australia and some islands of Indonesia is one plate, but the estimated Komodo formed about 1 million years ago.
While based on the research, extinct prehistoric Komodo dragon at least 30 million years ago, before the island of Komodo is formed. So why Komodo dragon can only be found on the island of Komodo and surroundings? Since when inhabiting Komodo Island Komodo dragon? While no traces of bones ever found elsewhere komodo (except Australia). This is one mystery that requires further research.
Komodo Birth of Mother "Virgin"
Just 18 days ago, waiting zoologists at the zoo for Chester Zoo, Manchester, England, ended. A natural phenomenon that surprised the world of animal science. A female Komodo dragon virgin, successfully lay eggs and hatch five of them.
Based on news reported by the Associated Press, Flora, the Komodo dragon's name was-successful females gave birth to five baby Komodo dragon without the participation of the male inhabitants of the island of Komodo in the process of fertilization.
"Flora is very impressive, we were delighted to know she is the mother and father of her babies," said Kevin Buley, curator of the zoo for vertebrate and invertebrate species.
In mid-January 2007, the eggs began to break after a period of eight months pregnant at the peak occurred January 23, 2007, with the birth of the fifth Komodo dragon. While the other two still dieraminya eggs.
"Application of the conservation breeding program is very unusual, because it opens a new path, in which the animals could potentially be a colony on an island," Buley said.
"Females are able to swim across a new island, and then incubating the eggs, and then dating her male babies and sexually normal produce a new generation," he added.
DNA tests provide accurate evidence that Flora truly successful without the help of her daughter gave birth to males.
Mentioned again, the size of the dragon babies is between 16 inches (40 cm) to 18 inches (45 cm) and weigh between 3 ½ - 4 ½ ounces (100-125 grams).
Eating Crickets and Grasshoppers
Five children descent Flora Komodo dragon is born healthy and only eat crickets and grasshoppers as food diet. This is in accordance with the original life in the wild Komodo dragon.
Based on scientific knowledge, while growing up, baby Komodo dragon can reach lengths 10 feet (3 meters) and weigh about 300 pounds (135 kilograms). If achieved this extraordinary measure, they will be able to eat round a pig or deer.
Well, a savage appetite in reptiles explains why Flora is not allowed to be close to his children. "There is no maternal instinct at self Komodo dragon. Hence, it is natural to keep their children away from their parents. Parent will try to eat anything that came in front of his nose, "Buley explained.
According to the data, about 70 species of reptiles, including snakes and lizards known to reproduce asexually (without the associated sex) in a process scientifically known as parthenogenesis. However, the conception of virginity (virginitas) Flora and other komodo dragon in April at the London zoo is first documented.
Two virginity's conception was announced in September, as stipulated in the scientific paper in the journal Nature.
Komodo residents
Komodo dragons are native to islands of Flores, East Nusa Tenggara. The island's most lots occupied by these komodo dragons are named in accordance with this animal's name when found in 1910, the island of Komodo (Komodo Island).
Giant lizards including endangered animals with a total population in the wild is less than 4000 animals. To protect the Komodo dragon, in 1980 agreed to form a conservation area in the form of the Komodo National Park on Komodo Island and small islands around it.
Komodo dragon distribution and population in the last three decades is the decline and increasingly threatened its existence, mainly due to hunting deer, as its main prey. Even the population on the island of Padar known to have been lost since the late 1990s, whereas in the early 1980s, the Komodo dragon can still be found there. Attention and conservation of this species in particular should be given, because the Komodo dragon populations on the verge of extinction.
For some residents on the island of Komodo, this animal is considered more dangerous to humans than crocodiles, because the bacterial content of saliva that can cause severe infections.
Usually, komodo dragons mating season occurs between June to July. In August, a female Komodo dragon will dig a nest of a bird's nest mounds former Gosong (Anas reindwardt) on the hill and nest hole in the ground, to keep the eggs that can reach 38 points. Komodo dragon eggs are usually guarded by its mother, but the new-born child in February or March is not guarded, often eaten instead.
Komodo takes five years to grow to the size of two meters and can continue to live up to 30 years. Entering a period of 4-5 years earlier sexual maturity of Komodo dragon.
