Komodo Dragon

[Rushing Doll]

Watched an amazing programme on the Komodo Dragon last night (Life- BBC1).
I was amazed, impressed and horrified at the same time. The piece followed the journey of a Buffalo kill by the Komodo. I never knew or would have thought that this prehistoric looking lizard could bring down a huge water buffalo. The secret it seems is in the Dragons bite which is venemous - again i did not know this. A few small nips from the dragon to start the process, which breaks the flesh of the prey and disperses deadly toxins.Then the lizard stalks the animal for a few weeks till the wound eventually cripples the unfortunate beast........................helpless.
The dragons then move in for the kill and strip the carcass. I found the programme fascinating but it also left me a little emotional watching the buffalo slowly deteriorating over a long time while the sinister lizards tagged its every move waiting for death - ground vultures. Thats nature I suppose. Highly recommended for any one who enjoys Nature Programmes and narrated of course by David Attenborough.

Here is a link to a related article - and NO i don't read the Sun!

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2686937/Amazing-Komodo-dragon-attack-caught-on-film.html

[Hombre de Maiz]

Indeed, that Komodo can be such an animal. Sometimes they go for humans. Following an attack of a man who was attacked while relieving himself in the woods, there were calls to change the name of the animal. To the Komode dragon...

I think much is made that the Komodo is "prehistoric". In fact, all species including us humans are strictly speaking "prehistoric". I theorize that there were, at one time, Komodos on Flores island as well. The distance between Rinca and Flores is certainly swimmable.

I've been a fan of animals since I was a kid. It is perhaps for this reason that I am at times underwhelmed by animal shows. They tend to revolve around the same animals: tigers, elephants, whales, chimps, etc. How about covering more fascinating and commonly known animals like the Aye-Aye, the Echidna, the Monito del Monte, the Tarsier, armadillos?

[Rushing Doll]

Indeed, that Komodo can be such an animal. Sometimes they go for humans. Following an attack of a man who was attacked while relieving himself in the woods, there were calls to change the name of the animal. To the Komode dragon...

I think much is made that the Komodo is "prehistoric". In fact, all species including us humans are strictly speaking "prehistoric". I theorize that there were, at one time, Komodos on Flores island as well. The distance between Rinca and Flores is certainly swimmable.

Good one Hombre:lol: - unfortunate though.

As for your "prehistoric" thoughts - well the "man relieving himself in the woods" quantifies that statement to a certain extent.

Have you not got any of your own photos to add to the thread? Have you ever photographed a Komodo?

[Hombre de Maiz]

Believe it or not, I have never seen a Komodo in the flesh. On our last expedition, we meant to go to Rinca to see them, but we pressed eastwards instead...

[avdog]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_Dragon. It is not fully proven yet whether they are venomous or not and is proven that the bacteria in their mouths is highly toxic like a poison.

[Rushing Doll]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_Dragon. It is not fully proven yet whether they are venomous or not and is proven that the bacteria in their mouths is highly toxic like a poison.

The Wikipedia link seems a little conflicted in its statements on whether the Dragon is venomous or not and gives various theories on the cause of infection from their bites. Either way, venomous or toxic the end result seems to be the same. Interesting to read.

[deviray50]

I once dated a girl who could bring you down with a single bite....:whistle:

Ray:typing:

[ohmdafyd]

Indeed, that Komodo can be such an animal. Sometimes they go for humans. Following an attack of a man who was attacked while relieving himself in the woods, there were calls to change the name of the animal. To the Komode dragon...

I think much is made that the Komodo is "prehistoric". In fact, all species including us humans are strictly speaking "prehistoric". I theorize that there were, at one time, Komodos on Flores island as well. The distance between Rinca and Flores is certainly swimmable.

I've been a fan of animals since I was a kid. It is perhaps for this reason that I am at times underwhelmed by animal shows. They tend to revolve around the same animals: tigers, elephants, whales, chimps, etc. How about covering more fascinating and commonly known animals like the Aye-Aye, the Echidna, the Monito del Monte, the Tarsier, armadillos?

Komodo Dragons are just Aussie Tourists...:whistle:

http://www.livescience.com/animals/091005-dragon-australia.html

[Hombre de Maiz]

Very interesting indeed. Once you start going far back enough (in geological time) it makes less and less sense to speak of the continents as we know them now since back then the world looked altogether differently. Those were the days when the landmasses had names like Laurasia, Pangea, Gondwana, etc.

On a related note, recently there was a newsclip that announced the discovery that the Komodo indeed possessed venemous glands in its mouth.

[avdog]

One scientist argued that they are not venom glands but used for the digestion of the prey since like a snake they swallow food whole and then regurgitate the bones, hair and other parts that are not digestible.

[Rushing Doll]

A new arrival.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/singapore/6750628/Komodo-dragon-born-at-Singapore-zoo.html

[kingwilly]

I saw that, its very cute!

http://thejakartaglobe.com/media/images/large/20091207150411204.jpg

[Davita]

Our esteemed moderator Atlantis may have something to say about this!

I remember he has one of those dragons and takes it everywhere he goes...France, Vietnam, Dubai and even Manado.

Just kidding....check his tattoo. :smile2:

David

[kingwilly]

i thought it was a gecko?

[Davita]

i thought it was a gecko?

Thanks King...just shows what I know (not).
In that case I'm not so impressed.

Heh! Olivier...you need to get another tattoo...:lol:

tattoo less, too scared of pain.. David

[kingwilly]

careful, i have been wrong once or twice before! ;)

[Gratilla]

Looks like a young monitor lizard, but its markings are a little unusual.

Should make a nice belt in a year or twos time.

[Rushing Doll]

Looks like a young monitor lizard, but its markings are a little unusual.

Should make a nice belt in a year or twos time.


:jaw:poor wee lizard.

[Rushing Doll]

i thought it was a gecko?
http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/commercials/2005/10/geico-gecko-1.jpg

[whitelantern]

a young water monitor with unusual markings would be having good price for pets, so you could get a nice artifical belt instantly....

:)