REPRODUCING THE KOMODO DRAGON WAY!
How do komodo dragons reproduce?
Komodo dragons reproduce mostly by sexual reproduction. There are male and female komodo dragons. Mating usually occurs during a specific time within the year. This is normally between the months of May to August.
Once a male finds a female that he would like to have sex with he starts to court her. If another male finds the same female attractive, then the two males fight. Once a male has won the fight, he licks the female. Sometimes she may deny and hiss at him, in which case the male licks her again (there are certain places on the female that stimulate her). Once the female gives in, if she at first denied the male, the male climbs on the back of the female. The male claws on the females skin as he mounts her and he may even bite her neck lightly. Once the male mounts...sex can begin!
What happens after sex?
Once the female is fertilized, she doesn't immediately lay her eggs. Sometime around September is when she will find a place to lay the fertilized eggs. It is unsure the exact reason for the delay in laying, but some suggest that it might have something to do with the summer heat.
The female lays her eggs toward land-dwelling bird nests that have been abandoned. This is so the eggs can remain incubated (these birds make huge nests that are made of twigs and other surrounding earth matter). The females have been know to stay with the eggs while they are incubating, however there has not be any evidence to suggest that there is parental care after the eggs have hatched.
Other reproduction information...
However there have been recent reports that females have laid fertile eggs without being fertilized by a male dragon. This process is known as parthenogenesis. The female lays eggs without having any contact with males. This process however is rare.
A cute and romantic little tid-bit
Some evidence has shown that males and females may remain monogamous for a period of time (this is NOT for life though).
To learn about how komodo dragons interact with other species, click here!
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