New research changes our view of the origin of the Komodo Dragon

Hmm, they are not registered at ResearchBlogging.org over there?

I don't actually know. I wrote that up while I was at the cabin using the laptop and the crappy internet connection between bouts of trenching and chopping firewood and stuff, so I kind of let that drop for this one. I will check, though.

Did the article not mention how the Komodos may have reached the Indonesian islands? If they reached Java, that means crossing the Wallace line, not an easy think to do, it seems. I see one of the co-authors is Mike Morwood, one of the co-discoverers of the Flores hobbit, who gives much coverage to species dispersal questions in his book.

Greg thanks for the link to the Smithsonian. Those giant Komodos must have been very scary in Australia. Great article.

I believe the Komodo Dragon is the world's largest living lizard.
B&R

John: I'll bet they can swim really well.... But yes, the article may mention that (can't remember, I read it like a week ago). But YOU can read it because it is OpenAccess!!!

Thanks, I'll do that.

Mike Morwood obviously has ambitions to be a wizard - first hobbits, now lizards (ie Smaug, sorry - Tolkien reader here)

You forgot to add the media blurb that automatically goes with stories like this" New research on Komodo Dragon completely rewrites Theory of Evolution..."

Took the ex and the kid to here today, and told her this story while looking at the Komodo dragon in the exhibit.

When did Indonesia and Australia separate btw?

Rorschach: Western Indonesia never separated from anything .... it is just a bunch of froth riding atop the interaction zone between two plates. The part next to New Guinea is still firmly attached to Austrlia, but separated by sea water that only inundates the continent during full-on interglacials. So, for much of the last 120 thousand years or so, they were connected or very close. All the bits in between are very messsy geologically speaking.

Thanks Greg !