A Taste for Death Trivia Quiz

Answer: About the same as an adult human

Komodo dragons are the largest lizard species in the world with the average adult dragon weighing about the same as an adult human. Their weight ranges between about 150 to 200 pounds in the wild, while dragons in captivity can weigh over 300 pounds! Dragons can live up to 30 years and grow up to 8.5 ft in length. The average adult alligator weighs around 800 pounds and adult grizzly bears can weigh over 1000 pounds! VW Bugs weigh around 3000 pounds.

Answer: They are all male

When a female Komodo dragon undergoes parthenogenesis and produces young on her own, all the young will be male. Since they are all male they can't be a clone of the mother! Like humans there are two copies of each chromosome and sometimes a mother has two dominant chromosomes (RR), or two recessive (rr), or one of both (Rr).

In parthenogenesis the mother effectively fertilizes an egg with another egg. So, different combinations of dominant and recessive chromosomes can emerge to create a unique dragon.

Other reptiles can also undergo parthenogenesis, and it appears to be a genetic advantage for the species. One female can start a new colony, and have her male children mating with her to produce both male and female offspring. The downside is the decrease in variety of genetic material.

Answer: Camouflage and patience

When a Komodo dragon decides to hunt for food it will find a spot where it is camouflaged and wait patiently for a potential meal to walk by. When ready to attack, the dragon can leap up to 15 feet and run at 12 miles per hour, so an animal getting too close had better be fast to get away from the dragon. Most hunts are unsuccessful, but, if the dragon is able to bite down on a prey, they have serrated teeth that can rip a gash into the victim. Due to blood loss and the resulting shock, most victims are eaten within an hour.

Answer: While digesting they find a cave to hide in because they are vulnerable

After consuming a large meal, the Komodo dragon will find a sunny spot to help speed up digestion. If digestion does not happen quickly enough, the food can start to rot in the dragon's stomach which can make them sick. Once enough digestion of a goat has occurred, the dragon will regurgitate the horns, bones and pelt. Komodo dragons can survive eating as few as twelve meals a year, however being opportunists, they will eat just about anything when given a chance.

Answer: So their parents don't eat them

About 10% of an adult Komodo dragon's diet is their fellow Komodo dragons, including their offspring. The juvenile dragons are carnivores, and spend most of their time in trees eating bugs and other small animals. If a juvenile manages to survive to about five years of age, they become large enough to survive on the ground. Also, as they get bigger, living in trees becomes physically difficult and they need larger meals which can only be found on the ground. Being bigger makes it easier for these young adult dragons to survive their fellow dragons, but smaller dragons will avoid bigger dragons out of caution.

Answer: Bone

As Komodo dragons mature they start building osteoderms, under their skin, which are made out of bones. These bony bumps form a type of armor that helps protect the dragon, mainly against other dragons. The older the dragon gets, the more intricate the bone pattern will become. These bones embedded in the skin make the skins less valuable to a poacher. Alligators and crocodiles also rely on osteoderms for defense.

Answer: The biggest dragon

When feeding on a large prey, like a water buffalo, the biggest and baddest dragon eats first. Dragons are not pack animals, so there are no alpha dragons. If two dragons are close to the same size they may fight between each other to establish who gets to eat first. Dragons will also fight over mating opportunities when a female shows signs of being ready to mate. Community eating and mating are the only times Komodo dragons interact with each other.

Answer: He survived a Komodo dragon bite and did not get infected

Bryan Fry did not get bitten by a Komodo dragon, but he has spent time observing them. He has noticed that most of the dragon's prey die quickly due to shock from blood loss rather than sepsis. He also theorized that water buffalos, which often die a few days after being bitten, resort to instincts that lead to their death.

When harmed, the buffalo tend to retreat to the stagnant waters in which they also defecate. Fry believes open wounds coming into contact with their feces are the main causes of sepsis and then death. Now, who would like to volunteer to gather Komodo dragon saliva samples?

Answer: Toxins making the eggs brittle

The dragon eggs are strong enough to survive pollutants. Since the park was formed, poaching has become less of a problem. In 1991, the Komodo National Park became a UNESCO heritage site. Another contributing factor to the dragon's decline is interruption of their reproduction due to human presence. While the dragons inspired the need for the park, there is a rich biodiversity that thrives in the protected area. Nature is pretty amazing when the human impact is eliminated or reduced.

Answer: Yes

Tourist interest in the Komodo dragons has helped to financially preserve the dragon's habitat. While the lizards certainly can be dangerous when they are in an aggressive mood, they typically can be avoided. Tour guides use long forked sticks to keep the dragons at bay, and if that doesn't work they can run quicker than the dragons can. In general, the dragons live solitary, quiet lives. However, they will add a human to the menu if a person is not wise enough to give the dragon space.