When a female is ready, d ominant males will battle one another in dramatic and often bloody wrestling matches that can last for hours. Females leave traces of their pheromones in their faeces and urine. Males keep track of females and their readiness to mate by smelling for pheromones with their giant forked tongues, by testing the air and licking. Male Dragons Battle for the Right to Mate
Males on the other hand continue to grow for several decades after sexual maturity. The growth of adult females slows dramatically after sexual maturity, when they put much of their energy into reproduction. Why are male Komodo dragons much larger than the females?Īdult males are considerably larger because large body size is important for winning battles with other males and gaining access to females for breeding. Scientists believe that male Komodo dragons can live up to 62 years in the wild based on extrapolations from body size. There’s not much known about the lifespan of Komodo dragons. According to UNESCO, there are about 1,700 dragons on Komodo island, with about 5,700 dragons in total spread across the islands of Komodo, Rinca, Gili Motong and parts of Flores.Įven though it is the largest reptile on the planet, Komodo dragons were not discovered by the Western world until 1910. Komodo dragons are only found in one small corner of the world on four islands in Indonesia. Females reach sexual maturity at 8-10 years old when they weigh about 40 lbs (18 kg). Source: AnAge Database of Animal Ageing and Longevity Komodo Dragons are the Largest Reptiles on the PlanetĪ mature healthy male Komodo dragon can weigh over 150 lbs (70 kg) and reach over 10 feet (3 m) in length.
There is no maternal care of the young… in fact, they might eat their own young! Key Reproductive Features Breeding interval Breed once yearly, but females will often mate more than once to ensure eggs are fertilized Breeding season Breeding occurs from July to September Range number of offspring 30 (high) Average number of offspring 22 Average gestation period 8 months Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female) 9 years Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male) 10 years Female Komodo dragons lay a clutch of 15 to 30 leathery shelled eggs in the nest. In the wild they usually reproduce sexually, but females in captivity have been known to reproduce by parthenogenesis, without the need for sperm. Komodo dragons can reproduce either sexually or by “virgin conception” depending on environmental conditions. Believe me when I tell you from personal experience, that observing wild Komodo dragons from a few feet away gives you a whole new respect for the size and power of these giant lizards.
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