Behavior of Varamis Komodoensis 
311 
Figure 7. Warning display of hatchling V. komodoensis. Weaponry emphasized by tail lashing prior to tail 
sweep. Head position, “inflated” hyoid and raised roach are part of display, but by themselves constitute 
a stress reaction (see text). 
or to other organisms in the vicinity. The 
most common sound is hissing which has 
been reported in almost all species of Varanus 
(Mertens, 1946; Grijs, 1899; Faussek, 1906; 
Stirling, 1912; and many others). It is 
usually associated with defensive tactics and 
as part of the threat display. During hissing, 
the mouth is held partly closed. Individuals 
of V. komodoensis hiss at one another during 
feeding, when approaching one another 
while moving around carrion, and when at- 
tacking one another. Females often hiss at 
males during courtship and particularly dur- 
ing mount attempts. Nearly all trapped in- 
dividuals hiss when approached by humans 
or if closely pressed along game trails. 
Tactile Communication and Contact Behavior 
Pushing with the body, tail, head, or even 
with a wide open mouth (jaw fencing) is 
common in many species of lizards (Mertens, 
1946). None of these was observed in inter- 
actions among Komodo monitors. 
A common defensive tactic of many species 
of Varamis, including V. komodoensis, is the 
“tail blow.” In the threat display preceding 
it, the tail is bowed away from the stimulus. 
When the stimulus comes within striking 
distance, the lizard lashes laterally with its 
tail (Fig. 8). The force of the blow is often 
exaggerated in popular literature. 
Biting is common in both offense and. de- 
fense, producing severe wounds that often 
lead to the death of one of the individuals. 
To summarize, reference should be made 
again to Table 4. The listed categories are 
not rigidly separated. While scent may be 
the most important cue in the core areas, 
this is not the case in the feeding aggrega- 
