HOME | DD
Franz-Josef73 β Varanus komodensis quick sketch
Published: 2013-10-27 20:00:17 +0000 UTC; Views: 1637; Favourites: 47; Downloads: 0
Redirect to original
Description
A quick pencil study of a Komodo dragon skull and face. They're apparently very puppy dog-like according to some keepers who have worked with them. Not very smart, but better than most lizards at expressing themselves. Thanks for looking.Related content
Comments: 11
Well, they are actually primates in reptile standard. Some test have been conducted and shows that they have a good memory and can tell differences in many objects
π: 0 β©: 0
Always loved komodo dragons and i agree their intelligence (as in other reptiles) is very, very understimated.
By the way, have you noticed how the proportions of their skull resemble those of big theropods, at least in terms of teeth lenght relative to the jaws... Mmh, sometimes i wonder if we'd have to restore an imaginary prehistoric monitor lizard without knowing his modern relatives; bet many would give him a full set of exposed teeth or, worse, a shrink-wrapped snout WITH exposed teeth of course
π: 0 β©: 1
Ha! You're reading my mind. I was looking at the skulls of lizards and remembering a talk that Β Tyler Keillor gave at SVP about 10 years ago showing how theropods match very well with monitors and other lizards. Theropod jaws would not normally clench tight like they're preserved in fossilization. That's an artefact of compaction. With a natural gap, like lizards have, there's plenty of evidence for lip bands that completely covered the teeth. I'm thinking of restoring a Komodo dragon head as many theropods are: with exposed teeth, crushed jaws, and bony struts showing through the supr-thin skin. Might be educational!
π: 0 β©: 1
Yeah, that would be cool
π: 0 β©: 0
Very nice scetch! The skull engineering of these dragons is just amazing!
π: 0 β©: 1
Very elegant structure indeed!
π: 0 β©: 0
I've heard that varanids in general are quite smart, probably in the range of dogs and cats.
π: 0 β©: 2
I often wonder about animals whose intelligence is underestimated because they don't convey facial expression like a dog or primate. We rely so much on visual indicators of thought and emotion. But birds, dolphins, reptiles, and other animals don't use their faces to communicate like canids and primates. Interesting stuff.
π: 0 β©: 0
If not even smarter, they can count.
π: 0 β©: 1
Plus they don't bark nonstop or pee in electrical outlets.
π: 0 β©: 1
You just have to not let them bite you.
π: 0 β©: 0