What are Komodo dragons named after?

On a small, 22 mile long island among the thousands of Indonesian isles lives the planet’s only living dragon — the Komodo (Varanus komodoensis). Named after the island on which it was discovered, the Komodo Dragon has gripped the popular imagination since it was brought to the attention of the world in 1910.

What is the Indonesian name for Komodo dragon?

Varanus komodoensis
The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), also known as the Komodo monitor, is a member of the monitor lizard family Varanidae that is endemic to the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, and Gili Motang.

What island does the Komodo dragon live on?

Komodo dragons have thrived in the harsh climate of Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands for millions of years. They prefer the islands’ tropical forests but can be found across the islands.

Who lives on Komodo Island?

There are 2000 people that live on the island as permanent residents. The religions of the people that live on the island are Hindu, Christianity, and Islamic. Komodo Island is part of a chain of islands known as the Lesser Sunda Chain. Between April and December it is the dry season for Komodo Island.

Is the Komodo dragon named after the island?

Komodo (Indonesian: Pulau Komodo) is one of the 17,508 islands that comprise the Republic of Indonesia. The island is particularly notable as the habitat of the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard on Earth, which is named after the island.

How many Komodo dragons are in Indonesia?

5,500 Komodo dragons
An estimated 5,500 Komodo dragons live in Komodo National Park. The lizards lounging outside the mess hall at the ranger station on Komodo island, though, look like slightly bored refugees from Jurassic Park. Their eyes are barely open. And they’re not moving.

Do Komodo dragons only live in Indonesia?

Komodo dragons live on only five islands in southeastern Indonesia: Indonesia’s four islands within Komodo National Park (Komodo, Rinca, Gili Montang, Gili Dasami), and the island of Flores.

Do Komodo dragons live on the same island?

In the coastal village of Kampung Komodo, many ethnic Bugis fishermen have managed to coexist with the 1,200 dragons who dominate the island. The dragons do turn on the humans. (See a video of living with Komodo Dragons.) Inevitably, though, there are times when the lizards come down from the hills to poke around.

Is Komodo dragon a dinosaur?

The Komodo Dragon, tough considered by many intellectual groups to carry the same traits, characteristics and DNA strand that would otherwise link its ancestors to the Prehistoric Period, is by default only a very large reptile and not a dinosaur.

How many Komodo dragons are on Komodo Island?

The World Animal Foundation estimates the number of Komodos in the wild to be 6,000. This population is split among the islands, with 1,700 on Komodo, 1,300 on Rinca, 100 on Gili Motang and around 2,000 on Flores. They are protected within the Komodo National Park.

What language is spoken on Komodo Island?

The Komodo language is a language spoken by the extinct Komodo people, and present day inhabitants of Komodo Island, with a small population of speakers on mainland Flores. It belongs to the Austronesian language family, and is a separate language from Manggarai.

How many Komodo dragons are there in Indonesia?

Komodo dragons are only present on five Indonesian islands, and in no other country in the world. Four of these islands make up what is known as Komodo National Park, and the fifth island is that of Flores. The main island that is home to the largest amount of komodo dragons in the world is named after these lizards; it is so-named Komodo Island.

What do the locals call the island of Komodo?

The locals have their own way to call the island of Komodo. They call it Orah Island, which is derived from orah, the local name for komodo dragons. The locals used to live in scattered ways all over the island until the island was designated as part of the Komodo National Park on 6 March 1980.

What is the scientific name of the Komodo dragon?

The Komodo dragon is also sometimes known as the Komodo monitor or the Komodo Island monitor in scientific literature, although this name is uncommon. To the natives of Komodo Island, it is referred to as ora, buaya darat (‘land crocodile’), or biawak raksasa (‘giant monitor’).

Where do dragons live in Indonesia?

The dragon breeds on several islands such as Gili Dasami, Komodo Island, Komodo National Park, Rinca, Gili Montang, and the Lesser Sunda region in Indonesia. The komodo also inhabits Flores island but in fewer numbers.