Female Trouble: For Komodo Dragons, Rife Inequalities between the Sexes [Slide Show]

New research reveals female Komodo dragons live half as long as males, most likely due to their extreme maternal duties, such as fighting off cannibalistic males—a scenario that, when coupled with anthropogenic threats, has implications for the species's survival

FALLEN GIANT: Komodo dragons are the islands' apex predator, but their own prey sometimes defeats them. Here a male dragon sits helplessly in a streambed where, days before, he tried to ambush a water buffalo... Rachel Nuwer
NOT KID-FRIENDLY: Only a few hatchlings at most from each Komodo dragon nest survive. For the first few years of their lives young dragons spend most of their time hiding from the adults in trees, where they sustain themselves on birds, insects and small lizards... Rachel Nuwer
MOTHER DRAGON: A soon-to-be mother dragon guards her buried eggs. Female dragons lay around 20 eggs and then tirelessly protect their nests against hungry males for several months. New research suggests that this recurring ordeal may account for the gross size and life span differences between males and females, with males living nearly twice as long and weighing around three times as much as their reproductively burdened counterparts... Rachel Nuwer
AMBUSH ALERT: Only an alert passerby would spot this dragon snoozing under a tree. Despite their large size, Komodo dragons are skilled stalkers and naturally blend in with the island landscape. Local villagers know they must be cautious when traversing the predator-infested environment, but even so, attacks by ora do occur... Rachel Nuwer
Advertisement
A VICTIM'S WARNING: Around Rinca Island, bones and skulls dot the landscape like signposts, marking the spot of past dragon dinners. Here a water buffalo skull reminds visitors to be wary of their surroundings... Rachel Nuwer
BATHE AT YOUR OWN RISK: A wild water buffalo wallows in one of the few remaining pockets of water left on Rinca Island at the height of the dry season in September. One of the dragons' favorite spots to ambush prey is near watering holes or streams... Rachel Nuwer
THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED: Mr. Safiana, a local guide who grew up in Komodo National Park, learned English by practicing with tourists. He encourages guests to join him on a long trek around Rinca Island's interior, which takes visitors through each of the islands' biomes and boasts the most spectacular views and best wildlife-spotting opportunities... Rachel Nuwer
CONSERVATION FOR ALL: Fewer tourists visit Rinca Island than its better-known neighbor, Komodo Island. Park staff claim that Rinca is a more ideal location for spotting dragons and other wildlife, however, because there is less human disturbance... Rachel Nuwer
Advertisement
SEPTIC SALIVA: A male Komodo dragon basks by a streambed, hoping for thirsty victims to wander its way. Rather than taking down prey on the spot, as would a lion or crocodile, Komodo dragons instead nip their victims on the foot or torso, then let their bacteria-laden saliva do the work for them... Rachel Nuwer
LOH BUAYA WELCOMES YOU: Visitors dock at Loh Buaya dock, the park's access point on Rinca Island. Boat captains and park guides lounge around, waiting for potential fares. Rachel Nuwer
HERE THERE BE DRAGONS: Several thousand Komodo dragons dwell on a cluster of five volcanic islands in eastern Indonesia—the only place in the world the animals inhabit. In 1980 conservationists and officials founded Komodo National Park to protect the dragons, which are the world's largest lizards... Rachel Nuwer

Newsletter

Get smart. Sign up for our email newsletter.

Science or SciFi?