The Komodo Dragon By JiWhan

1. The Komodo DragonBy JiWhan

2. The Introduction: Hello! Today I will tell you amazing facts about Komodo dragons! My presentation is about Komodo dragons, so let’s learn a lot about them!

3. What are the Physical Characteristics of a Komodo Dragon? Komodo dragons are enormous and they are the heaviest lizards. They can grow to a length of 19 feet and weigh 300 pounds. They have a keen sense of smell. They can climb trees and swim very well.

4. What is the Appearance of a Komodo Dragon? Komodo dragons are very poisonous with grayish-brown, scaly skin. Young dragons have yellow speckles. They have round and shiny eyes, and a yellow tongue. They have 60 jagged teeth, and very sharp claws and fearsome-looking jaws! They have thick, bowed legs that are very useful and powerful. They are low to the ground, and they have a long, stretchy tail.

5. Where do Komodo Dragons Live? Komodo dragons live in the islands of central Indonesia. Some of the islands are Komodo, Rinca, Padar, and Flores. Komodo and Rinca are odd islands. They are very dry, hot, and barren compared to rainforests. These arid volcanic islands have steep slopes and water is not easily available. Komodo dragons are most abundant in the lower arid forests and savannas.

6. What do Komodo Dragons Eat and How do they Get their Food? Komodo dragons are carnivorous and they will eat almost any kind of animal, dead or alive. When they are young, they feed on insects and as they get older, they will eat deer, boar, carrion, birds, birds’ eggs, small mammals, monkeys, goats, water buffaloes, horses, people, - almost every living creature on Earth! They have virulent bacteria in their saliva. When suitable prey arrives, it charges and goes for the underside or the throat!

7. How do Komodo Dragons Protect Themselves? Komodo dragons have no enemies on the islands of central Indonesia, where they live. There are only a few enemies that Komodo dragons have in other countries. They are crocodiles, cobras, people, and other Komodo dragons. They do not have sophisticated defenses. They use their tail to kill prey and protect themselves from enemies.

8. The Life Cycle of a Komodo Dragon! First, the female Komodo dragon lays 20 to 40 eggs in a nest. The female leaves, and in eight months the eggs will hatch. Komodo dragon hatchlings are tiny. They weigh 2.5 ounces to 3.5 ounces. Their green skin is covered with bright, yellow stripes. They spend their time eating insects and small reptiles. They are safe because they live in trees. After a while, the hatchlings grow. They get larger and heavier. Finally, they are fully grown, and they are able to start the amazing life cycle again! Life cycle!

9. Are Komodo Dragons Endangered or Not? Komodo dragons are endangered and very few of them are left in the world. Most of them are found on the island of Komodo and small nearby islands. People are a great danger to Komodo dragons. Hunting them is against the law, but people still kill Komodo dragons. Others destroy their habitats. So, scientists believe that only 3,000 to 6,000 Komodo dragons live in this area. Another 200 are kept in zoos around the world.

10. Fun Facts! • Komodo dragons often break their teeth while biting prey and they grow new ones later! • Komodo dragons can eat half their body weight in food in less than 20 minutes! • Komodo dragons eat fast. They can sprint up to 12 miles per hour! • Komodo dragons can live up to 50 years! • Komodo dragons are a species of lizard, not dragons! • Scientists think that Komodo dragons are related to a type of lizard that lived 100 million years ago!

11. Pictures of Komodo Dragons!

12. Bibliography • Komodo Dragons by Jason Glaser (Book) • www.ask.com • www.animals.com • www.google.co.krm • www.wikepedia.com • www.enchantedlearning.com

13. Ending Thank you for listening to my wonderful and significant presentation! I hope you learned lots of facts about Komodo dragons! So, let’s respect the Komodo dragon and let’s respect the other animals of the world! Bye!!! See you later!!!