antonsrkn
Predator and Prey
Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) and Sunda sambar (Rusa timorensis) - Komodo National Park, Indonesia
A komodo dragon strides past the deer that are one of its main prey items. The deer do not appear to be particularly worried as they keep an eye on the dragon and give it some space. The dragon they can see is relatively safe but a surprise attack by one of the large monitors can pose a danger to these deer. For years there was a misconception that the bacteria living in the dragons mouth were responsible for killing its prey that it had bitten but not killed. In recent years this has been disproved, the dragons do possess some venom. In fact proteins that are present in their venom are known to inhibit blood clotting, lower blood pressure, induce muscle paralysis, and induce hypothermia, leading to shock and loss of consciousness in prey. How potent their venom is and how much of an effect it really has is debatable, most of the dragons prey dies of blood loss from the massive wounds sustained from the lizards backwards hooking teeth. Many of us have heard of water buffalo slowly succumbing to the infection of the bites wounds due to the bacterial flora of the dragons mouth but actually the infection stems from the filthy water in the pools they soak in rather than anything the dragon introduces.
Predator and Prey
Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) and Sunda sambar (Rusa timorensis) - Komodo National Park, Indonesia
A komodo dragon strides past the deer that are one of its main prey items. The deer do not appear to be particularly worried as they keep an eye on the dragon and give it some space. The dragon they can see is relatively safe but a surprise attack by one of the large monitors can pose a danger to these deer. For years there was a misconception that the bacteria living in the dragons mouth were responsible for killing its prey that it had bitten but not killed. In recent years this has been disproved, the dragons do possess some venom. In fact proteins that are present in their venom are known to inhibit blood clotting, lower blood pressure, induce muscle paralysis, and induce hypothermia, leading to shock and loss of consciousness in prey. How potent their venom is and how much of an effect it really has is debatable, most of the dragons prey dies of blood loss from the massive wounds sustained from the lizards backwards hooking teeth. Many of us have heard of water buffalo slowly succumbing to the infection of the bites wounds due to the bacterial flora of the dragons mouth but actually the infection stems from the filthy water in the pools they soak in rather than anything the dragon introduces.