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for this animal, comodo dragon, please answer the following : 1) ) List its full

ID: 95656 • Letter: F

Question

for this animal, comodo dragon, please answer the following :

1) ) List its full taxonomy from Phylum to Genus and specific epithet and a common name if it has one and include a photograph.

2) List its general characteristics, i.e., physical features, size, etc..

3) Describe a bit of the animal’s biology (where does it live, what does it eat, etc.) plus one UNIQUE characteristic about the animal. The unique characteristic could be structural, functional, or both.

please include your sources, thank you

Explanation / Answer

Komodo Dragon

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:

COMMON NAME:           Komodo dragon

KINGDOM:                         Animalia

PHYLUM:                             Chordata

CLASS:                                 Reptilia

ORDER:                                 Squamata

FAMILY:                               Varanidae

GENUS SPECIES:               Varanus (monitor lizard) komodoensis (belonging to Komodo)

Physical features include Terrestrial multi-hued lizard with dark yellow, green, brown, and gray scales in years 1-5; adults generally are earthen red to gray and nearly black in various species; have short, powerful limbs and tail; sharp claws.

SIZE: The male sizes around 2.5-3.18 m (8½-10½ ft) total adult body length and the females will be 1.8-1.96 m (6-6½ ft.) total adult body length.

WEIGHT: 164.25 kg (365 lbs) maximum and males are 90.9-135 kg (200-300 lb.) and females are 34-56.8 kg (75-125 lb.).

Diet include boar, deer, water buffalo, civet cats, rats, birds, fish, snakes, chickens, goats, eggs, carrion; up to 10% of adult diets consist of smaller komodo dragons.

Unique features:

Komodos are opportunistic carnivores whose saliva contains several strains of virulent bacteria which in turn causes severe infection that can lead to blood poisoning and death in 1-5 days.

Their sense of smell is so keen they can detect the scent of carrion 5 miles away

They have been known to eat up to 80% of their body weight in one meal.

As you asked, the source is: https://seaworld.org/Animal-Info/Animal-Bytes/Reptiles/Komodo-Dragon