Komodo Dragons

More than twenty years have passed since Walter Auffenberg's monumental The Behavioral Ecology of the Komodo Monitor. In the intervening years the populations of Komodo dragons—native only to a handful of islands in southeast Indonesia—have dwindled, sparking intensive conservation efforts. During the last two decades new information about these formidable predators has emerged, and the most important findings are clearly presented here. A memoir from Walter Auffenberg and his son Kurt is followed by the latest information on Komodo dragon biology, ecology, population distribution, and behavior. The second part of the book is dedicated to step-by-step management and conservation techniques, both for wild and captive dragons. This successful model is a useful template for the conservation of other endangered species as well, for, as Kurt and Walter Auffenberg note, “The species may well indeed survive in the wild for generations to come while countless other organisms are lost.”

Provides information about Komodo dragons, including anatomy, behavior, and ancestry.

Fabulous photos and informative text reveal where komodo dragons live, what they eat, and how they produce young. Includes a range map, life cycle diagram, and amazing facts.

Find out what makes komodo dragons different from other reptiles.

Komodo dragons and their habitat

Meet Earth's heaviest lizard! Introduce elementary kids to Komodo dragons and their venomous bites. As monitor lizards, Komodo dragons are large and in charge. They can only be found on a few islands in Indonesia where there are no other predators. Readers explore this large reptile's features and behaviors, including its diet and baby dragons. An end folk tale shares an Indonesian story about where Komodo dragons come from.

"Fascinating images accompany information about the komodo dragon. The combination of high-interest subject matter and narrative text is intended for students in grades 3 through 7"--Provided by publisher.

"Developed by literacy experts for students in kindergarten through grade three, this book introduces Komodo dragons to young readers through leveled text and related photos"--