Komodo dragon collision between Australia and Southeast Asia allowed these larger varanids to move back into what is now the Indonesian archipelago, extending their range as far east as the island of Timor. The Komodo dragon was believed to have differentiated from its Australian ancestors 4 million years ago. However, recent fossil evidence from Queensland suggests the Komodo dragon actually evolved in Australia before spreading to Indonesia. Dramatic lowering of sea level during the last glacial period uncovered extensive stretches of continental shelf that the Komodo dragon colonised, becoming isolated in their present island range as sea levels rose afterwards. Extinct Pliocene
Ctenophorus maculosus Ctenophorus maculosus Ctenophorus maculosus, commonly known as the Lake Eyre dragon lizard or salt-lake ground-dragon, is a species of agamid lizard endemic to South Australia. "C. maculosus" mainly inhabits the edges of salt lakes in South Australia, from which its common names are derived. It survives in this harsh habitat through adaptive mechanisms to tolerate high temperatures and lack of free water. The female "C. maculosus" possesses unique male rejection techniques which are currently the focus of further research. "C. maculosus" can be identified by a white to pale grey dorsal surface with black blotches and a white ventral surface