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