312 
Auffenberg 
Figure 8. Head positions in overt, high level threat (left) and in stress reaction (right) associated in 
several display contexts. (A) Hatchling — threat, with teeth shown as potential weapon. (B) Adult — higher 
level threat, involving wide gape to display teeth. (C) Hatchling — stress reaction, in this case part of 
threat display involving tail lashing. (D) Subadult — stress reaction, in this case as part of appeasement 
display. (E) Adult — stress reaction, in this case part of threat display following its attack on another in- 
dividual. All photo tracings. 
tion where visual cues are more important. 
In this situation communication depends 
more on the general appearance of the moni- 
tors moving around carrion than on any 
particular marks or patterns. Movement in 
itself appears to be the chief component in 
social communications. The movement of the 
larger Komodo monitors around carrion ap- 
parently provides the entire group with fre- 
quent opportunities for recognition which 
results in repositioning of the smaller in- 
dividuals. 
Only around large carrion can this recog- 
nition and response be maintained visually. 
