Behavior of Varanus Komodoensis 
325 
ciated, probably because most predatory rep- 
tiles studied have been small, common, and 
relatively short-lived. Small size makes it 
more difficult to recognize slight behavioral 
differences; their abundance tends to mask 
individual differences, and the short life span 
limits the number of experiences to which 
they might be exposed. 
COURTSHIP 
Since the early studies of Noble and Brad- 
ley (1933), courtship and mating have been 
described and studied in many families of 
lizards. Falk (1921) reports pairing in V. 
exanthematius and Werner (1893) in V. 
griseus, but important details are not given. 
A photograph of a breeding pair of V. 
komodoensis is shown in Stadt (1939) but 
undescribed. Tanzer and van Heurn (1938) 
simply state that a captive male Komodo 
monitor “in the course of copulation . . . lies 
over the female, in the usual manner.” Dur- 
ing the present study V. komodoensis sexual 
behavior was observed on 10 different occa- 
sions. These data, plus those available on 
breeding in zoological gardens, constitute 
our present knowledge of courtship and 
mating in this species. 
Courtship was observed nearly all year 
(January 19 through October 1) ; however, 
the time for successful coition is more lim- 
ited, extending from June 28 to early Octo- 
ber. Lengthy courtship periods are often as- 
sociated with multiple egg clutches during 
a long reproductive season (Tinkle, 1969). 
However, in the Komodo monitor the short 
period of actual copulation results in a 
strongly peaked annual reproductive pattern. 
The frequent sexual behavior of at least cer- 
tain adult male and female oras during most 
of the year raises the question of the purpose 
of this nonconsummated courtship activity. 
Though the relationship between courtship 
activity and successful breeding is not clear, 
it appears that in the Komodo monitor the 
repetition of courtship behavior is related to 
pair-bond formation. 
It is significant that the courtship and 
mating of oras often occur in the presence 
of aggregations, unlike the situation in most 
other lizard species where the mating pair 
is usually alone. The frequency of sex ac- 
tivity in or near aggregations is due to the 
fact that courtship and breeding often take 
place near carrion. The number of individ- 
uals in an aggregation, including the court- 
ing pair, varied from two to six and consisted 
of individuals of both sexes and of various 
sizes. It is particularly interesting that the 
dominant male in one study area (19W) 
courted female 23 W most consistently, even 
though other mature females were occasion- 
ally present. 
All courtship observed between 19W and 
23W occurred within the broadly overlapping 
portion of their activity ranges, (Auffenberg, 
MS). The sharing of activity ranges between 
a male and one or more females is of course 
very common among vertebrates, including 
lizards (Rand, 1967). 
19W courted only two other individuals 
other than 23W in the 10 sequences observed ; 
while 23W had only two other males court 
her. Both these males were transients, young 
and apparently inexperienced. One was 
severely bitten by 23W during his attempts 
to mount her. No courtship resulting in copu- 
lation was successful except with 19W. The 
frequency and smoothness of courtship be- 
tween them, as well as the infrequency of 
sexual behavior with other individuals and 
the confusion often attending these attempts, 
lead me to conclude that 19W and 23W prob- 
ably recognized one another as individuals. 
Rand (1967) came to the same conclusion in 
his behavioral studies of the iguanid Anolis 
lineatopis, and, because of this, he and others 
(e.g., Milstead, 1961 ; Fitch, 1956) have sug- 
gested the possibility of pair bonding in some 
species of iguanid lizards. I believe that the 
frequency of unconsummated courtship in 
coactions between both 19W and 23W and 
other individuals, as well as the near non- 
existence of precopulatory displays, serve to 
maintain a pair bond through the year. Pair 
bonding is probably important in organisms 
not only capable of killing one another, but 
often cannibalistic. Such pair bonding as a 
