Dragons do exist!

thatsweird ^

[JoeProBono]

The Komodo dragon is the world's largest flesh-eating lizard and living reptile. This amazing creature is only found in the wild on four small Indonesian islands, where they are vulnerable to disease, volcanic activity, and competition with feral dogs and man. It lives on the islands of Komodo, Rinca, Padar, and Flores. The Komodo is an endangered species and there are only about 5,000 of them in existence around the world, including a small number kept and bred in zoos. This giant lizard can grow to 3 meters (10 feet) long, and has an average weight of 70 kg (155 pounds). Komodo dragons are dangerous predators with sharp serrated teeth more like a shark's than a reptile's. Swift runners, they can swim and climb trees, and they can use their tail as a weapon and swing it like a club. They find most of their food by smell. Like shakes they 'taste' the air with their tongues, which are deeply forked and collect scent molecules from the air. They have an acute sense of smell and can detect the scent of decaying remains from up to 5km (3 miles).

[JoeProBono]

While Komodos like to eat dead things, they also prey on wild pigs, water buffalo and deer. They have a huge capacity for food, often eating up to half of their body weight in one meal. They are also cannibalistic, sometimes eating their own kind. They eat almost all of a carcass, consuming flesh, skin and even bones. A large Komodo can swallow a whole wild pig; their jaws expand like a snake's.

Their bite is often lethal because the bacteria in their mouths is so poisonous that wounds often do not heal, and their victim, if it manages to escape, dies in a day or two.

Although often regarded as pests, Komodos are not a serious danger to humans. In order to protect the dragon, the Indonesian government has made the islands of Padar and Rinca into nature reserves for both the lizard and its prey. Commercial trade in specimens or skins is illegal under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

[JoeProBono]

[cripplecreek]

Their bite is often lethal because the bacteria in their mouths is so poisonous that wounds often do not heal, and their victim, if it manages to escape, dies in a day or two.

I recently read that the scientific view on that is changing. While the bacteria is nasty it also appears to be highly specialized to kill quickly. Seems that science is starting to consider the possibility that the dragons are venomous.

[JoeProBono]

Cool!

[JimSEA]

It would be quite an experience to see one.

I can recall walking along a path in the very civilized Sentosa Island in Singapore when a cousin, monitor lizard strolled across in front of us. Big sucker.

I had seen the even smaller monitors prevalent in Northern Thailand but they are nothing like this guy was.

I would imagine the contrast with the Komodos would be a shocking (if it decided to eat you particularly).

[potlatch]

Wasn’t it Sharon Stone who wanted to give her husband [at the time] a ‘special’ gift and set up a private session for him with a komodo and I believe he got bit?

“Twas quite a gift the giftee gee us”........lol

[Ronin]

I read a story some years ago about a young Japanese couple who wanted to have a romantic night on the beach... and were never seen again.

Dragon food....

[JoeProBono]

Monday, 11 June, 2001, 11:55 GMT 12:55 UK

Lizard bites Sharon Stone's husband

San Francisco Chronicle editor Phil Bronstein - the husband of actress Sharon Stone - has had foot surgery following an attack by a Komodo dragon at a US zoo. Bronstein was bitten on the foot in the Indonesian lizard's cage during the couple's private tour of Los Angeles zoo.

He had surgery on Saturday to reattach severed tendons and rebuild a big toe and was in a stable condition, a spokesman for the paper said.

The lizard got hold of Bronstein's foot after a zookeeper asked him to remove his white tennis shoes to keep the five-foot-long reptile from mistaking them for the white rats it is fed.

Stone, who witnessed the attack from outside the cage, said the reptile attacked Bronstein's shoeless foot, crushing his big toe while thrashing its body around.

The editor managed to pry open the reptile's mouth and escape through a small feeding door in the cage while the zookeeper distracted it, Stone said.

[Hot Tabasco]

and were never seen again.

They were shanghied...

[JoeProBono]

"Dragon food...."

Nah

[JoeProBono]

"if it decided to eat you "

Nah

[Gay State Conservative]

I just visited the Indonesian island of Batam (a 45 minute ferry ride from Singapore) and the first thing I saw at the dock was a big Indonesian Tourism Authority sign saying something like...Welcome to Indonesia,Home Of The Komodo Dragon...and it had a huge picture of one.

I almost turned around right there because I've seen stuff on various cable channels and PBS about them.The photo just about caused me to have a heart attack.

[JoeProBono]

So you decided not to take a ride, huh?

[Larry Lucido]

The Komodo dragon is the world's largest flesh-eating lizard and living reptile.

This giant lizard can grow to 3 meters (10 feet) long, and has an average weight of 70 kg (155 pounds).

Am I missing something? Aren't crocodiles reptiles, and heavier than 155 pounds?

[JoeProBono]

Nice dragon

[Safetgiver]

Kill ‘em. Kill ‘em all. Make nice boots, too!

[Joe 6-pack]

They are also one of few land dwelling vertebrates capable of parthenogenesis.

[JoeProBono]

Tastes like chicken

[Gay State Conservative]

So you decided not to take a ride, huh?

Nope..no way.If I ever decide to end it all I'll do it in a comparatively benign way...like running headlong into a wood chipper.

[Safetgiver]

I believe crocs and alligators are amphibians. Could be wrong.

[Joe 6-pack]

Technically, Alligators and Crocs are not lizards, but they are indeed, reptiles. The leatherback turtle is generally considered the largest reptile behind the crocodilians, so the dragon is a little lower on the pecking order than the writer seems to be suggesting here, but it is in fact, the largest known lizard.

[JoeProBono]

[JoeProBono]

Aww comon

[Daffynition]

[JoeProBono]

See how cute? Kuchie Kuchie

[Daffynition]

Then there's ...

[JoeProBono]

"but it is in fact, the largest known lizard."

Yeah and with one mean tongue

[potlatch]

Yes, thank you! I knew I knew it, lol. He’s lucky it was his foot!

[JoeProBono]

Drew you a dragon diagram

[Larry Lucido]

Thanks. Although, I think this Lizard King may have weighed in at much more than 155 pounds at the time of its demise.

[Joe 6-pack]

Yeah....real funny 'til you have to take them to the vet's office....

[JoeProBono]

Who dat?

[Daffynition]

Clark Kellogg: But it's an endangered species!
Carmine Sabatini: Not any more. It's in New Jersey, it's fine.

[savedbygrace]

Whatever happens, you do not want to be on that end.

[Joe 6-pack]

The other end is no picnic, either ;-)

[JoeProBono]

HA!

[Daffynition]

See, I'd take him on the subway ... then you'd have a seat too...

[Safetgiver]

Wish I could find a 155 lb. frog. Legs would take all day to fry in the deep fryer.

[Joe 6-pack]

"See, I'd take him on the subway ..."

Those critters don't mix well with trains...

[savedbygrace]

True that.

But if you run afoul of the other end, your embarrassment is short lived, as are you.

[Daffynition]

The new 'n improved "K-9"...

[TBP]

The Komodo dragon is the world's largest flesh-eating lizard and living reptile.

This was just close enough to remind me of the great Bob and Ray sketch "The Komodo Dragon Expert".

http://www.mindspring.com/~biohaz/komodo.txt

THE KOMODO DRAGON EXPERT
by Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding

RAY: We're fortunate to have with us today the world- renowned Komodo dragon authority from Upper Montclair, New Jersey. His name is Doctor Daryll Dexter. Doctor, would you tell our listeners all about the Komodo dragon, please?
BOB: The Komodo dragon, the world's largest living lizard, is a ferocious carnivore. It's found on the steep-sloped island of Komodo in the lesser Sunda chain of the Indonesian Archipelago and the nearby islands of Rinja, Padar, and Flores.
R: Where do they come from?
B: The Komodo dragon, the world's largest living lizard, is found on the steep-sloped island of Komodo ....in the lesser Sunda chain of the Indonesian Archipelago....and the nearby islands of Rinja, Padar, and Flores. We have two in this country at the National Zoo in Washington....which were given to the U.S. by the late former premier of Indonesia....Sukarno....some years ago.
R: I believe I read somewhere....that a foreign potentate gave America some Komodo dragons. Is that true? B: Yes.... the former premier of Indonesia, Sukarno, gifted this country with two Komodo dragons....world's largest living lizards....some years back....and they're now residing at the National Zoo in Washington.
R: Well, now, if we wanted to take the children to see a Komodo dragon....where would we take the children to see a Komodo dragon?
B: If you were in the vicinity of our nation's capital, Washington, D.C.....you would take the kiddos to the National Zoo, and there you would see two Komodo dragons....the world's largest living lizard. There is a stuffed Komodo dragon in the lobby of the Royal Hotel in Katmandu, Nepal.
R: Er....they're of the lizard family?
B: Yes. They are the world's largest living lizard and a ferocious carnivore. They have red darting tongues which suck in air and take it to their smelling glands in their throats.
R: Do they eat other animals, these Komodo dragons?
B: Yes, they're ferocious carnivores. In fact, they can gulp down the hindquarters of a deer in one bite.
R: What about that smelly tongue they have?
B:.....No......they have a red darting tongue which brings in air to their smelling glands.
R: Doctor....I believe we've just about exhausted the subject. I want to thank you for coming here tonight, and incidentally, for any of our listeners who would like a transcript of Dr. Dexter's remarks, just write or phone Dr. Dexter at his Upper Montclair, New Jersey home....
B: ....I won't send it to them......
R: ....I know it was a great hardship for you to get here today, Doctor. Do you have a ride home?
B: No, I don't.
R: Well, mabye somebody from the audience will give you a ride home after the show. I think we all know a great deal more about the Komodo dragon now than we did a few minutes ago.

[TBP]

The Komodo dragon is the world's largest flesh-eating lizard and living reptile.

This was just close enough to remind me of the great Bob and Ray sketch "The Komodo Dragon Expert".

http://www.mindspring.com/~biohaz/komodo.txt

THE KOMODO DRAGON EXPERT
by Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding

RAY: We're fortunate to have with us today the world- renowned Komodo dragon authority from Upper Montclair, New Jersey. His name is Doctor Daryll Dexter. Doctor, would you tell our listeners all about the Komodo dragon, please?
BOB: The Komodo dragon, the world's largest living lizard, is a ferocious carnivore. It's found on the steep-sloped island of Komodo in the lesser Sunda chain of the Indonesian Archipelago and the nearby islands of Rinja, Padar, and Flores.
R: Where do they come from?
B: The Komodo dragon, the world's largest living lizard, is found on the steep-sloped island of Komodo ....in the lesser Sunda chain of the Indonesian Archipelago....and the nearby islands of Rinja, Padar, and Flores. We have two in this country at the National Zoo in Washington....which were given to the U.S. by the late former premier of Indonesia....Sukarno....some years ago.
R: I believe I read somewhere....that a foreign potentate gave America some Komodo dragons. Is that true?
B: Yes.... the former premier of Indonesia, Sukarno, gifted this country with two Komodo dragons....world's largest living lizards....some years back....and they're now residing at the National Zoo in Washington.
R: Well, now, if we wanted to take the children to see a Komodo dragon....where would we take the children to see a Komodo dragon?
B: If you were in the vicinity of our nation's capital, Washington, D.C.....you would take the kiddos to the National Zoo, and there you would see two Komodo dragons....the world's largest living lizard. There is a stuffed Komodo dragon in the lobby of the Royal Hotel in Katmandu, Nepal.
R: Er....they're of the lizard family?
B: Yes. They are the world's largest living lizard and a ferocious carnivore. They have red darting tongues which suck in air and take it to their smelling glands in their throats.
R: Do they eat other animals, these Komodo dragons?
B: Yes, they're ferocious carnivores. In fact, they can gulp down the hindquarters of a deer in one bite.
R: What about that smelly tongue they have?
B:.....No......they have a red darting tongue which brings in air to their smelling glands.
R: Doctor....I believe we've just about exhausted the subject. I want to thank you for coming here tonight, and incidentally, for any of our listeners who would like a transcript of Dr. Dexter's remarks, just write or phone Dr. Dexter at his Upper Montclair, New Jersey home....
B: ....I won't send it to them......
R: ....I know it was a great hardship for you to get here today, Doctor. Do you have a ride home?
B: No, I don't.
R: Well, mabye somebody from the audience will give you a ride home after the show. I think we all know a great deal more about the Komodo dragon now than we did a few minutes ago.

[A knight without armor]

Very good! So uncannily life like! Practically three dimensional! I can’t believe you are not doing National Geographic covers!

[A knight without armor]

Man. I bet it gets all the mayonnaise out of the jar.

[Daffynition]

Just add some Jose Cuervo .........

[A knight without armor]

“The editor managed to pry open the reptile’s mouth and escape through a small feeding door in the cage while the zookeeper distracted it, Stone said. “

The editor escaped through a small feeding door? LO and L!

[devolve]

You're what's for dinner!

[JoeProBono]

Thanks for the sketch! Here's another:

[potlatch]

Naaa, I’ve been chewed up and spit out, lol.