How big is a female Komodo dragon?

Answer 1

Komodo dragons are the largest living lizard in the world. They are a type of monitor Lizard of the Varanidae family. When frightened, Komodo dragons can run up to 18km/h for a short distance. Usually, they run at a slow trot of 8 - 10km/h. The largest Komodo dragon measured weighed 165.9kg (365pounds). Large dragons usually weigh up to 90kg. It is hard to tell the difference between male and female dragons. However, males have a special scale pattern at the based of their tail. generally, males grow larger than females. The largest recorded Komodo dragon length is 3.13m (10feet 2 inches). Female Komodo dragons rarely grow over 2.5m (7feet 6 inches) in length. Scientist believe that Komodo dragons can live up to 50 years, maybe longer. Komodo dragons can swim at least 500m. However, they become sluggish in the water because the water cools their body temperature down.

Young dragons spend most of their time in trees but dragons over 1.5m long can not climb well. Dragons over 2 meters are too heavy to climb trees. The Komodo dragons are constantly regulating their body temperatures. In the early morning, they must warm-up their bodies in the sun. If their body temperature drops too low, the food in their stomach can rot and cause regurgitation or even death. However, the Komodo dragon's body temperature must not exceed 42 degrees celcius (108 degrees Fahrenheit). When it is too hot, they must rest and seek shade to prevent their body from over-heating. Dragons are most active from 6 - 10am in the morning and again from 3 - 5pm in the afternoon. During the rainy season. Komodo dragons stay in burrows if they are too cold. Komodo dragons sleep at night because it is usually too cool for them to be active. They will sleep where they will not loose too much heat at the edge of the savanna and monsoon forest or in burrows. The average sleeping burrow is only 75cm to 1.25m in length. The Komodo dragons will use the burrows of rodents, palm civets, wild board, porcupine (on Flores) and those made by other Komodo dragons. Nesting burrows are about 2 meters long.