Photo of the Week: Forked Tongue of the Dragon, Komodo, Indonesia

Ng Sebastian (Photo and Text)
3 April 2011

This picture of a Komodo Dragon was taken on November 01, 2006. It is one of the best pictures of the giant lizards that I have ever taken, although I have been visiting Komodo National Park almost every year since April 1988.

The gigantic inhabitants of the island of Komodo and the Lesser Sunda Islands draw many people from around the world, as these are the only example of ancient giant lizards to have survived into the modern age. IUCN – The International Union for the Conservation of Nature – lists the Komodo Dragon as ‘vulnerable’ on its Red List of endangered species.

The male Komodo Dragon pictured here is roughly three metres in length and nearly 100 kg in weight. This is amongst the largest examples of the species.

In addition to the sight of its cold blooded residents, the islands have much to offer to humans and other mammals. The water in Komodo National Park offers superb dive spots with clear water almost all year round.

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adventure sport, animal conservation, Asia, forest, Indonesia, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, island, IUCN, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, jungle, Komodo, Komodo dragon, Komodo National Park, Lesser Sunda Islands, lizards, photo of the week, Southeast Asia, wildlife,

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 3rd, 2011 at 10:00 am and is filed under the following categories:

adventure travel, animal conservation, Asia, Eastern Asia, forests & jungles, game reserves, Indonesia, islands, national parks, photo of the week,

2 Responses to “Photo of the Week: Forked Tongue of the Dragon, Komodo, Indonesia”

gerard oude hergelinck says:

April 4, 2011 at 10:00 am

Very good capture. At the right time. And the shade makes it look like the animal wears a medieval jersey and modern leather pants by Massimo Dutti. What is the Komodo Dragon doing with this forked tongue? Or is his/her fate in evolution to end up with the French who are called the inventors of eating with cutlery?
Ng Sebastian says:

April 7, 2011 at 9:57 pm

Hi Gerard,
Thanks for the appreciation. The French might probably stranded on Komodo Island before inventing the cutlery but the forked Komodo tongue is mainly function for: \The Komodo dragon uses its tongue to detect taste and smell stimuli, as with many other reptiles, with the vomeronasal sense using a Jacobson’s organ, a sense that aids navigation in the dark. With the help of a favorable wind and its habit of swinging its head from side to side as it walks, Komodo dragons may be able to detect carrion from 4–9.5 kilometres (2.5–6 mi) away\ Further read at http://incitoprima.com/details.php?catid=4&aid=43

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