Indonesia, actually is quite amazing because in this
country still found a variety of unique
ancient animals. Their population is few and the sustainability must be
protected. Here are ancient animals that still exist in Indonesia. You can tour
and explore Indonesia to find them.
1 Komodo
Komodo also know as the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), or the Komodo monitor, is a large species of lizard found in the Indonesia islands, named of komodo Island. Komodo growing to a maximum length of 3 metres (10 ft) in rare cases and weighing up to approximately 70 kilograms (150 lb).
As a result of their size, these lizards dominate the ecosystems in
which they live. Komodo dragons hunt and ambush prey including invertebrates, birds,
and mammals. It has been claimed that they have a venomous bite; there are
two glands in the lower jaw which secrete several toxic proteins. The
biological significance of these proteins is disputed, but the glands have been
shown to secrete an anticoagulant. Komodo dragon group behaviour in hunting is
exceptional in the reptile world. The diet of big Komodo dragons mainly
consists of deer, though they also eat considerable amounts of carrion. Komodo
dragons also occasionally attack humans in the area of West Manggarai Regency where
they live in Indonesia.
Komodo dragons were first recorded by Western scientists
in 1910. Their large size and fearsome reputation make them popular zoo
exhibits. In the wild, their range has contracted due to human activities, and
they are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. They are
protected under Indonesian law, and a national park, Komodo National Park,
was founded to aid protection efforts.
2 Leatherback sea turtle
The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea),
sometimes called the lute turtle, is the largest of all living turtles and
is the fourth heaviest modern reptile behind three crocodilians. It
is the only living species in the genus Dermochelys. It can
easily be differentiated from other modern sea turtles by its lack of
a bony shell. Instead, its carapace is covered by skin and oily
flesh. Dermochelys coriacea is the only extant member
of the family Dermochelyidae.
Leatherback turtles can be found primarily in the open
ocean. Scientists tracked a leatherback turtle that swam from Indonesia to the
U.S. in an epic 20,000 km (12,000 mi) foraging journey over a period
of 647 days. Leatherbacks follow their jellyfish prey throughout the
day, resulting in turtles "preferring" deeper water in the daytime,
and shallower water at night (when the jellyfish rise up the water column). This
hunting strategy often places turtles in very frigid waters. One individual was
found actively hunting in waters that had a surface temperature of 0.4 °C
(32.7 °F).
3. Arowana
Arowanas are freshwater bony fish of
the family Osteoglossidae, also known as bonytongues. In this
family of fish, the head is bony and the elongated body is covered by large,
heavy scales, with a mosaic pattern of canals. The dorsal and anal fins have
soft rays and are long based, while the pectoral and ventral fins are small.
The name "bonytongues" is derived from a toothed bone on the floor of
the mouth, the "tongue", equipped with teeth that bite against teeth
on the roof of the mouth. The arowana is a facultative air breather and can
obtain oxygen from air by sucking it into its swim bladder, which is lined
with capillaries like lung tissue.
Arowana fish is one of the ancient fish that has not
extinct yet. Studies of genetic and fossil findings show, these fish have been
living on the earth at least since 220 million years ago. Arowana is the
carnivorous fish inhabiting the river and lake habitats. These fish can be
found in the Amazon, and in parts of Africa, Asia and Australia. Arowana Fish
(Scleropagus sp.) Can be found in freshwater Indonesia. One kind of Arowana is
a super red and can be found in Kapuas River and Sentarum Lake in West
Kalimantan . These waters are areas of peat forest creates a primitive
environment for these ancient fish.
4. Saltwater crocodile
The saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus),
also known as saltie, estuarine or Indo-Pacific crocodile,
is the largest of all living reptiles, as well as the largest terrestrial and riparian predator in
the world. The males of this species can reach sizes of up to 6.7 m
(22 ft) and weigh as much as 2,000 kg (4,400 lb)
saltwater crocodile can be found ranging from the Bay of Bengal
(India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh) to the Fiji Islands. Indonesia became a
favorite habitat for saltwater crocodile beside Australia.
5. Pangolin
A pangolin (also referred to as a scaly
anteater or trenggiling) is a mammal of the order Pholidota.
The one extant family, Manidae, has one genus, Manis, which
comprises eight species. A number of extinct species are also
known. A pangolin has large keratin scales covering its skin,
and is the only known mammal with this adaptation. It is found naturally
in tropical regions throughout Africa and Asia. The name pangolin comes
from the Malay word pengguling, meaning "something that
rolls up".
Pangolins are nocturnal animals who use their
well-developed sense of smell to find insects. The long-tailed pangolin also
is active by day. Other species of pangolins spend most of the daytime
sleeping, curled up into a ball.
Arboreal pangolins live in hollow trees, whereas the
ground dwelling species dig tunnels underground, to a depth of 3.5 metres
(11 ft). Pangolins are also good swimmers.