December 31, 2021 • 13 mins
Discover the real life dragons of Komodo Island on this episode of Amazing Wildlife! Hosts Rick and Ebone uncover how this fascinating reptile got its name, the evolution of the species, and what makes their bite so deadly. The hosts respond to a young listener's question about the Komodo Dragon's diet.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm Abney Money and I'm Rich Schwartz. Welcome to
Amazing Wildlife, where we explore unique stories of wildlife from
around the world and uncover fascinating animal facts. This podcast
is a production of I Heart Radio in San Diego
Zoo Wildlife Alliance in international nonprofit conservation organization that oversees
(00:24):
the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, and we have
a great show for you Today. We're talking about a
carnivorous reptile, the Komodo dragon. You will discover more about
the world's largest living lizard and the challenges it faces.
(00:45):
There's so many fascinating facts about the komodo dragon, from
its cool name to sheer size. Let's jump right in.
Where do you want to start? Yes, eventy, there is
a lot to cover with the Komodo dragon, but let's
start with the most impressive fact. They are absolutely the
huge lizards. If we were to measure from the tip
of the nose to the tip of the tail, a
(01:05):
female commodo dragon can reach up to six and a
half feet in length. That's a lot, but males can
get as long as ten feet with that same measurement
and pound for a pound, they don't hold back. Females
can weigh as much as a hundred and fifty four pounds,
and males get this tip the scales sometimes at three
hundred pounds and this is just a lizard. Wow. Commonal
(01:27):
dragons are part of the monitor lizard family, which includes
about fifty species of lizards that range in size. So
why is it that the commodo dragon is so big?
Is there a link between its size and something else,
like maybe its age or habitat Well, there are several
ideas out there as to why the commotive dragons are
(01:48):
so large. One of the more popular theories we have
found is that due to no predatory competition and minimal
human interference for thousands of years, the species grew and
evolved to hunt native deer in the ecosystem. Go big
or go home, right, But keep in mind, recently they
have found fossils that show that lizards of the same
size have been around in other parts of the world,
(02:11):
So the theory may change as we learn more. Rick
What exactly is a monitor lizard? So the monitor lizard
family is a group of different lizards that range in
size and locations around the globe, mostly in what we
referred to as the Old World, so that's Africa and Asia.
Some tend to hang around more wet environments. Some thrive
(02:32):
in dry areas. Uh. Some get very large, of course,
like our friend the Komodo dragon, and some not nearly
as big and actually do well in the trees. This
species intrigues so many of us, possibly because we like
saying dragons. Where does the name commodo dragon come from?
It really is pretty interesting. Komodo dragons were unknown by
(02:54):
a Western scientists until their common name comes from the
early rumors of a large dragon like lizard occurring in
the Lesser Sunda Islands, including Komodo, which is one of
the islands in the area. So you know, hence the
name Komodo dragon. And I can kind of see how
the yellow color of the Komodo dragon's tongue flicking in
and out kind of reminded people of the spitting fire
(03:15):
of the dragon. So again, Komodo dragon. Speaking of the
Komodo dragon's mouths, they're known for having a deadly bite.
Can you tell us more about that? So this is
something scientists have gone back and forth on for quite
a while. The bite of the Komodo dragon is not
truly venomous like we think of maybe a rattlesnake or
a cobra bite, but due to powerful enzymes in their
(03:36):
saliva and a lot of bacteria in their mouth, the
reaction from the bite is similar to being bitten by
a venomous reptile. Now it's a very powerful bite, and
as they dig those teeth in, that bacteria and those
enzymes get into the wound and cause a lot of damage.
Now they'll usually release their bite and allow their prey
atom to wander off, but as time goes by, that
bacteria and the pressure of the bike cause enough damage
(03:58):
that animal slows down and and stops, allowing the dragons
to catch up. So it may not be venomous, but
it's deadly. Does the commonal dragon have any other adaptations
that makes it able to consume prey that's so much
larger than its own size? Really, the answers all in
the bite, because they're able to deliver that powerful bite
(04:19):
and then kind of just sit back and follow their
prey because unfortunately that wound bleeds and leaves a trail
for them to follow with that sense of smell that
they have, and eventually they'll catch up to their prey.
They're very strong and powerful animals, so when that prey
item does go down, a group of dragons are gonna
really go in and have their feast. As you were
telling us, the commonal dragon's unique tongue has gained its
(04:40):
comparison to a mythical creature. But how else do they
use their tongues? Yes, very similar to snakes. We know
snakes will flick their tongue in and out, and there's
a lot of myths and legends around what that might mean.
But the truth of the matter is the same cells
that you and I have in our nose to smell things,
whether it's freshly baked cookies or something that doesn't smell good,
(05:02):
those receptor cells are picking up small particles in the
air that we're breathing in. So for snakes and commodo
dragons and many other species out there, flicking the tongue
in and out picks up those same particles that you
and I would bring into our nose. But what's different
that tongue than brings those particles to the roof of
the mouth. In the roof of the mouth is an
area called the Jacobson's organ, which is basically a cluster
(05:23):
of receptor cells like we have in our nose, but
for them it's in the roof of the mouth, and
this tells them what's in the environment. It's actually a
very good way for them to follow their prey after
they've made that initial bite. Unfortunately, as you know, the
Commodo dragon is moving towards extinction and is on the
Red List. What is the Red list and why is
(05:45):
the Commonto dragon on it? The Red List is very interesting.
It comes to us from the International Union of Conservation
of Nature, sometimes referred to as IUCN Red List, and
the Red List of Threatened Species is a comprehensive list
of the global conservation status of biological species from threatened, vulnerable,
endangered to critically endangered. In the case of the Komodo dragon,
(06:08):
they are listed as endangered, meaning the population is at
risk of extinction. Some of the challenges the komodo dragon's
face in the wild right now is loss of habitat,
and some of that is due to residential and commercial development.
Sometimes there's loss of resources as well. We can see
over hunting of certain areas, even trapping of some of
their prey items, which makes it challenging for them, of course,
(06:28):
to survive, and then there's even the chance that we
can see natural disasters hitting their area. Now the good
news on this what's always important when we talk about
why species are facing challenges of possible extinction, we want
to talk about to what is happening to help prevent that.
So there's new legislation coming out to help protect and
manage their habitat in the wild, which is always very
(06:48):
valuable for any species, and there's also international work to
see what can be done to prevent illegal trading of
the species as well. In June, the Stego Zoo opened
its brand new Komodo Kingdom. Rick, what can you tell
us about this brand new habitat? Oh, yes, somebody, Honestly,
(07:09):
it was so awesome. I was lucky enough to be
there the day that Komodo Kingdom opened to the public,
and it is so cool. When people walk into this space,
they're going to be able to explore the different environments
of the Komodo dragon, you know, including the beach, woodlands
and the mountain highland areas. I mean, they thought of everything,
and it's not just about our guest experience, of course,
it's for the Komodo dragons. They love their pools. One
(07:33):
of the female that was there, she was kind of
just sit on her heated rock and joined the mister.
When we were opening to the public was great, you know,
the media was there and everything, and it's all really
just specially designed to recreate the dragons native region where
they can be found. Wow, I go a little jealous.
So a beach, a wooded area, mountains, with everything that
has gone into making the Comodo dragons feel at home
(07:55):
in this new habitat, Can we expect any sort of expansion?
Will there be more dragons at it? Maybe possibly like
the pitter patter of little dragon feet? Yes, yes, and
yes to all of that. Uh, they really didn't think
of everything, like I said, when they were planning this
and building out this habitat. And one of the main things,
of course, as we mentioned, Commodo dragons are an endangered species,
(08:17):
so of course the hope, as you said, is to
eventually have that pitter patter of baby dragon feet. It's
funny because we talked about that sort of doing like
the pitter patter feet. It's kind of joking, but it's
actually a very serious thing. With many of our endangered species,
including the Komodo dragon. We work with other zoos and
know what's called or kind of referenced as SSP, and
that simply means the Species Survival Program for Komodo dragons.
(08:40):
And they're every species that's out there pretty much in
zoos has some version of this. And what that means
is the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and other zoos
we kind of all coordinate together to make sure whatever
komodo dragons are breeding and when they're going to breed,
we want to make sure we know everything about each individual.
This gives us basically the best possible outcome for this
(09:02):
population that we're gonna have in zoos. You know, we
want to make sure they're genetically diverse, which is going
to keep the population healthy. And why is the zoo
population is so important? Well, unfortunately, as we've learned with
many other species, should there ever be a day where
they go extinct in the wild, this population in zoos
will be what brings them back. So baby dragons sounds
(09:23):
so cute, but this is really serious. So there's a
lot of research in science involves Yes, yes, indeed, thanks.
Now it's time for the San Diego Zoo Minute, an
opportunity for you to learn what's new at the Zoo.
(09:44):
Are you ready? In February of the San Diego Zoo
will welcome you to Wildlife Explorers Base Camp, four acres
of wildlife adventure, all with one amazing goal to encourage
young wildlife explorers to learn about nature, actively play, encounter
new species, and develop an empathy for wildlife. At Wildlife
(10:05):
Explorers Base Camp, you can interact, climb, scramble, and jump
in innovative nature play areas. Visit habitats from around the world,
from desert dunes and wildwoods to marsh meadows and rainforests.
Learn by doing and through a variety of one of
a kind experiences with animals. You'll connect like never before
to the natural world and understand the importance of conserving wildlife.
(10:28):
A world of explorative play and adventure awaits wildlife explorers
of every age and size. Feel what it's like to
be wild at Wildlife Explorers Base Camp only at the
San Diego Zoo. Fun Fact Base Camp at the San
Diego Zoo will feature many species ranging from leaf cutter
ants to slats. Speaking of slats, did you know too
(10:51):
told Slavs are nocturnal, being most active at night, while
three told Slavs are diurnal, which means they're most active
during the day. We'll be right back. I've learned so
(11:14):
much today about the Komodo dragons, and we're not done yet.
The world's largest reptiles are a favorite among our young listeners,
and today we have a question from Soren. What do
Komodo dragons eat. Komodo dragons are carnivores, meaning they eat
other animals, so they will hunt wild boar, sunda deer,
(11:36):
water buffalo, large snakes, and other animals native to the island.
But if they come across it, they'll also eat some
carry on two, which is an animal that's already passed
our Komodo dragons related to dinosaurs? Are Komodo dragons related
to dinosaurs? Well, so we're honestly, just looking at them,
you'd think they were. I can see why you would
(11:57):
ask that. But get this. The earliest fossil record of
the Komodo dragon goes back about four million years, which
is really a long time ago. But dinosaurs, well they
went extinct about sixty five million years ago, so there's
almost sixty million years difference between when dinosaurs were going
extinct in the first ancestors of modern day Komodo dragons existing.
(12:17):
So sorry to say commodo dragons are not dinosaurs. How
long do Komodo dragons live So the best of our knowledge,
so are in Commodo dragons live on average thirty thirty
five years. And I gotta say those were some pretty
good questions, man, I really appreciate you taking the time
to send those in. And hey, anybody else, any of
our young listeners, if you have an animal question or
(12:40):
two or even three, please send us an audio file
of you asking your questions to Wildlife at I heart
media dot com. Then keep listening to see if we
answer your questions in an upcoming episode. And that's our
show for today. Thanks for listening. Be sure to subscribe
and tune into next week's episode, in which will bring
to the story of the King of the Jungle, the Gorilla,
(13:03):
the largest of the primates. I'm Abdi Money and I'm
Rich Schwartz. Thanks for listening. For more information about the
San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, go
to stz w A dot org. Amazing Wildlife is a
production of I Heart Radio. Our producer is Nikkia Swinton.
Our executive producer is Marci de Pina, Our audio engineer
(13:23):
and editor is Amina Gnatra, with assistance from Matt Stillo
and James Foster. For more shows from my Heart Radio,
check out the I Heart Radio app, Apple podcast, or
wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
Hi, I'm Abney Money and I'm Rich Schwartz. Welcome to
Amazing Wildlife, where we explore unique stories of wildlife from
around the world and uncover fascinating animal facts. This podcast
is a production of I Heart Radio in San Diego
Zoo Wildlife Alliance in international nonprofit conservation organization that oversees
(00:24):
the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, and we have
a great show for you Today. We're talking about a
carnivorous reptile, the Komodo dragon. You will discover more about
the world's largest living lizard and the challenges it faces.
(00:45):
There's so many fascinating facts about the komodo dragon, from
its cool name to sheer size. Let's jump right in.
Where do you want to start? Yes, eventy, there is
a lot to cover with the Komodo dragon, but let's
start with the most impressive fact. They are absolutely the
huge lizards. If we were to measure from the tip
of the nose to the tip of the tail, a
(01:05):
female commodo dragon can reach up to six and a
half feet in length. That's a lot, but males can
get as long as ten feet with that same measurement
and pound for a pound, they don't hold back. Females
can weigh as much as a hundred and fifty four pounds,
and males get this tip the scales sometimes at three
hundred pounds and this is just a lizard. Wow. Commonal
(01:27):
dragons are part of the monitor lizard family, which includes
about fifty species of lizards that range in size. So
why is it that the commodo dragon is so big?
Is there a link between its size and something else,
like maybe its age or habitat Well, there are several
ideas out there as to why the commotive dragons are
(01:48):
so large. One of the more popular theories we have
found is that due to no predatory competition and minimal
human interference for thousands of years, the species grew and
evolved to hunt native deer in the ecosystem. Go big
or go home, right, But keep in mind, recently they
have found fossils that show that lizards of the same
size have been around in other parts of the world,
(02:11):
So the theory may change as we learn more. Rick
What exactly is a monitor lizard? So the monitor lizard
family is a group of different lizards that range in
size and locations around the globe, mostly in what we
referred to as the Old World, so that's Africa and Asia.
Some tend to hang around more wet environments. Some thrive
(02:32):
in dry areas. Uh. Some get very large, of course,
like our friend the Komodo dragon, and some not nearly
as big and actually do well in the trees. This
species intrigues so many of us, possibly because we like
saying dragons. Where does the name commodo dragon come from?
It really is pretty interesting. Komodo dragons were unknown by
(02:54):
a Western scientists until their common name comes from the
early rumors of a large dragon like lizard occurring in
the Lesser Sunda Islands, including Komodo, which is one of
the islands in the area. So you know, hence the
name Komodo dragon. And I can kind of see how
the yellow color of the Komodo dragon's tongue flicking in
and out kind of reminded people of the spitting fire
(03:15):
of the dragon. So again, Komodo dragon. Speaking of the
Komodo dragon's mouths, they're known for having a deadly bite.
Can you tell us more about that? So this is
something scientists have gone back and forth on for quite
a while. The bite of the Komodo dragon is not
truly venomous like we think of maybe a rattlesnake or
a cobra bite, but due to powerful enzymes in their
(03:36):
saliva and a lot of bacteria in their mouth, the
reaction from the bite is similar to being bitten by
a venomous reptile. Now it's a very powerful bite, and
as they dig those teeth in, that bacteria and those
enzymes get into the wound and cause a lot of damage.
Now they'll usually release their bite and allow their prey
atom to wander off, but as time goes by, that
bacteria and the pressure of the bike cause enough damage
(03:58):
that animal slows down and and stops, allowing the dragons
to catch up. So it may not be venomous, but
it's deadly. Does the commonal dragon have any other adaptations
that makes it able to consume prey that's so much
larger than its own size? Really, the answers all in
the bite, because they're able to deliver that powerful bite
(04:19):
and then kind of just sit back and follow their
prey because unfortunately that wound bleeds and leaves a trail
for them to follow with that sense of smell that
they have, and eventually they'll catch up to their prey.
They're very strong and powerful animals, so when that prey
item does go down, a group of dragons are gonna
really go in and have their feast. As you were
telling us, the commonal dragon's unique tongue has gained its
(04:40):
comparison to a mythical creature. But how else do they
use their tongues? Yes, very similar to snakes. We know
snakes will flick their tongue in and out, and there's
a lot of myths and legends around what that might mean.
But the truth of the matter is the same cells
that you and I have in our nose to smell things,
whether it's freshly baked cookies or something that doesn't smell good,
(05:02):
those receptor cells are picking up small particles in the
air that we're breathing in. So for snakes and commodo
dragons and many other species out there, flicking the tongue
in and out picks up those same particles that you
and I would bring into our nose. But what's different
that tongue than brings those particles to the roof of
the mouth. In the roof of the mouth is an
area called the Jacobson's organ, which is basically a cluster
(05:23):
of receptor cells like we have in our nose, but
for them it's in the roof of the mouth, and
this tells them what's in the environment. It's actually a
very good way for them to follow their prey after
they've made that initial bite. Unfortunately, as you know, the
Commodo dragon is moving towards extinction and is on the
Red List. What is the Red list and why is
(05:45):
the Commonto dragon on it? The Red List is very interesting.
It comes to us from the International Union of Conservation
of Nature, sometimes referred to as IUCN Red List, and
the Red List of Threatened Species is a comprehensive list
of the global conservation status of biological species from threatened, vulnerable,
endangered to critically endangered. In the case of the Komodo dragon,
(06:08):
they are listed as endangered, meaning the population is at
risk of extinction. Some of the challenges the komodo dragon's
face in the wild right now is loss of habitat,
and some of that is due to residential and commercial development.
Sometimes there's loss of resources as well. We can see
over hunting of certain areas, even trapping of some of
their prey items, which makes it challenging for them, of course,
(06:28):
to survive, and then there's even the chance that we
can see natural disasters hitting their area. Now the good
news on this what's always important when we talk about
why species are facing challenges of possible extinction, we want
to talk about to what is happening to help prevent that.
So there's new legislation coming out to help protect and
manage their habitat in the wild, which is always very
(06:48):
valuable for any species, and there's also international work to
see what can be done to prevent illegal trading of
the species as well. In June, the Stego Zoo opened
its brand new Komodo Kingdom. Rick, what can you tell
us about this brand new habitat? Oh, yes, somebody, Honestly,
(07:09):
it was so awesome. I was lucky enough to be
there the day that Komodo Kingdom opened to the public,
and it is so cool. When people walk into this space,
they're going to be able to explore the different environments
of the Komodo dragon, you know, including the beach, woodlands
and the mountain highland areas. I mean, they thought of everything,
and it's not just about our guest experience, of course,
it's for the Komodo dragons. They love their pools. One
(07:33):
of the female that was there, she was kind of
just sit on her heated rock and joined the mister.
When we were opening to the public was great, you know,
the media was there and everything, and it's all really
just specially designed to recreate the dragons native region where
they can be found. Wow, I go a little jealous.
So a beach, a wooded area, mountains, with everything that
has gone into making the Comodo dragons feel at home
(07:55):
in this new habitat, Can we expect any sort of expansion?
Will there be more dragons at it? Maybe possibly like
the pitter patter of little dragon feet? Yes, yes, and
yes to all of that. Uh, they really didn't think
of everything, like I said, when they were planning this
and building out this habitat. And one of the main things,
of course, as we mentioned, Commodo dragons are an endangered species,
(08:17):
so of course the hope, as you said, is to
eventually have that pitter patter of baby dragon feet. It's
funny because we talked about that sort of doing like
the pitter patter feet. It's kind of joking, but it's
actually a very serious thing. With many of our endangered species,
including the Komodo dragon. We work with other zoos and
know what's called or kind of referenced as SSP, and
that simply means the Species Survival Program for Komodo dragons.
(08:40):
And they're every species that's out there pretty much in
zoos has some version of this. And what that means
is the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and other zoos
we kind of all coordinate together to make sure whatever
komodo dragons are breeding and when they're going to breed,
we want to make sure we know everything about each individual.
This gives us basically the best possible outcome for this
(09:02):
population that we're gonna have in zoos. You know, we
want to make sure they're genetically diverse, which is going
to keep the population healthy. And why is the zoo
population is so important? Well, unfortunately, as we've learned with
many other species, should there ever be a day where
they go extinct in the wild, this population in zoos
will be what brings them back. So baby dragons sounds
(09:23):
so cute, but this is really serious. So there's a
lot of research in science involves Yes, yes, indeed, thanks.
Now it's time for the San Diego Zoo Minute, an
opportunity for you to learn what's new at the Zoo.
(09:44):
Are you ready? In February of the San Diego Zoo
will welcome you to Wildlife Explorers Base Camp, four acres
of wildlife adventure, all with one amazing goal to encourage
young wildlife explorers to learn about nature, actively play, encounter
new species, and develop an empathy for wildlife. At Wildlife
(10:05):
Explorers Base Camp, you can interact, climb, scramble, and jump
in innovative nature play areas. Visit habitats from around the world,
from desert dunes and wildwoods to marsh meadows and rainforests.
Learn by doing and through a variety of one of
a kind experiences with animals. You'll connect like never before
to the natural world and understand the importance of conserving wildlife.
(10:28):
A world of explorative play and adventure awaits wildlife explorers
of every age and size. Feel what it's like to
be wild at Wildlife Explorers Base Camp only at the
San Diego Zoo. Fun Fact Base Camp at the San
Diego Zoo will feature many species ranging from leaf cutter
ants to slats. Speaking of slats, did you know too
(10:51):
told Slavs are nocturnal, being most active at night, while
three told Slavs are diurnal, which means they're most active
during the day. We'll be right back. I've learned so
(11:14):
much today about the Komodo dragons, and we're not done yet.
The world's largest reptiles are a favorite among our young listeners,
and today we have a question from Soren. What do
Komodo dragons eat. Komodo dragons are carnivores, meaning they eat
other animals, so they will hunt wild boar, sunda deer,
(11:36):
water buffalo, large snakes, and other animals native to the island.
But if they come across it, they'll also eat some
carry on two, which is an animal that's already passed
our Komodo dragons related to dinosaurs? Are Komodo dragons related
to dinosaurs? Well, so we're honestly, just looking at them,
you'd think they were. I can see why you would
(11:57):
ask that. But get this. The earliest fossil record of
the Komodo dragon goes back about four million years, which
is really a long time ago. But dinosaurs, well they
went extinct about sixty five million years ago, so there's
almost sixty million years difference between when dinosaurs were going
extinct in the first ancestors of modern day Komodo dragons existing.
(12:17):
So sorry to say commodo dragons are not dinosaurs. How
long do Komodo dragons live So the best of our knowledge,
so are in Commodo dragons live on average thirty thirty
five years. And I gotta say those were some pretty
good questions, man, I really appreciate you taking the time
to send those in. And hey, anybody else, any of
our young listeners, if you have an animal question or
(12:40):
two or even three, please send us an audio file
of you asking your questions to Wildlife at I heart
media dot com. Then keep listening to see if we
answer your questions in an upcoming episode. And that's our
show for today. Thanks for listening. Be sure to subscribe
and tune into next week's episode, in which will bring
to the story of the King of the Jungle, the Gorilla,
(13:03):
the largest of the primates. I'm Abdi Money and I'm
Rich Schwartz. Thanks for listening. For more information about the
San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, go
to stz w A dot org. Amazing Wildlife is a
production of I Heart Radio. Our producer is Nikkia Swinton.
Our executive producer is Marci de Pina, Our audio engineer
(13:23):
and editor is Amina Gnatra, with assistance from Matt Stillo
and James Foster. For more shows from my Heart Radio,
check out the I Heart Radio app, Apple podcast, or
wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
Hosts And Creators
Rick Schwartz
Marco Wendt
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