If you have spotted a giant lizard in your back yard and are worried it might eat you, fear not – there are no wild Komodo dragons in Florida nor anywhere else in the US.
사실대로, there no Komodo dragons anywhere in the American continent, except in a couple of zoos.
There are however other types of giant lizards roaming Florida and the US, and some can look a lot like a Komodo dragon.
To get a better understanding on the matter, we need to clarify the difference between a Monitor lizard and a Komodo dragon.
Komodo dragons are the world’s largest species of monitor lizard, and they are native to Indonesia.
These majestic reptiles can only be found on a few islands in the Lesser Sunda Islands, including Komodo, 린카, 플로레스, and Padar.
While there are no wild Komodo dragons in the US, there are a few zoos and private collections that have them.
그 말, there are many other types of Monitor lizards that have been introduced through the pet trade.
Basically, your friendly neighbor in Florida could own their very own miniature Komodo dragon.
Why people think there are Komodo dragons in Florida
There are invasive species of monitor lizards and tegu lizards in Florida, which are sometimes mistaken for Komodo dragons, despite being much smaller and less dangerous.
Both Nile monitor lizards 그리고 아르헨티나 흑백 테구스 are considered to be invasive species in Florida and may be mistaken for Komodo dragons.
They were introduced to the state as exotic pets, but many have escaped or been released into the wild.
These lizards are now well-established in Florida and can be found in a variety of habitats, 숲을 포함하여, wetlands, and urban areas.
Nile monitor lizards are roughly half the size of Komodo dragons, but they can still be dangerous, especially for pets, as they are known to feed on cats.
Tegu lizards are not a type of monitor lizards, and they are much smaller and less dangerous than Komodo dragons.
Tegus are native to South America, and were introduced to Florida as exotic pets. 사실은, tegus are actually quite docile and make for great pets despite their size.
There have been a few hoaxes over the years about Komodo dragons being found in Florida. These hoaxes are often spread through social media or by word-of-mouth.
The media also sometimes sensationalizes stories about Komodo dragons.
This can lead people to believe that Komodo dragons are more common than they actually are – this species is actually endangered and there are not many species found in captivity.
If you want to see a Komodo dragon in his natural habitat, you’ll have to fly to Komodo island.
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Komodo Dragons in Florida FAQs
Are there wild Komodo dragons in Florida?
아니, there are no wild Komodo dragons in Florida or anywhere else in the United States.
Komodo dragons are native to Indonesia and only found in a few islands including Komodo, 린카, 플로레스, and Padar.
Are there monitor lizards in Florida?
예, there are two species of monitor lizards that have been introduced to Florida and are now considered to be invasive: the Nile monitor lizard (바라누스 닐로티쿠스) and the black-throated monitor lizard (Varanus albigularis).
What kind of invasive large lizard species are there in Florida?
There are two main species of invasive large lizard species in Florida: the Nile monitor lizard and the Argentine black and white tegu.
Both of these species are non-native to Florida and can pose a threat to native wildlife and ecosystems.
Tegus are related to Komodo dragons in the sense that they are both members of the suborder Sauria, which also includes all other lizards, 뱀, and amphisbaenians.
하지만, tegus and Komodo dragons belong to different families: Tegu lizards belong to the family Teiidae, while Komodo dragons belong to the family Varanidae.
다시 말해, Komodo dragons are a type of monitor lizards, whereas tegus are not, the two animals are only very loosely related.
Can you keep Komodo dragons as a pet in Florida?
아니, you cannot keep a Komodo dragon as a pet in Florida.
Komodo dragons are an endangered species and are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
This means that it is illegal to trade in Komodo dragons, including importing or exporting them.
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