The Komodo Dragon is a giant and fearsome lizard. Its scientifically known as Varanus komodoensis.
How big can they get?
The Komodo dragon is the largest lizard in the world. It can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh up to 300 pounds. Komodo dragons are covered with scaly, yellow-brown speckled skin that helps camouflage and is difficult to detect when sitting still. It has short stout legs and a huge tail as long as its body. It has a set of 60 sharp, serrated teeth and a long, forked yellow tongue.
Where do Komodo Dragons live?
These giant lizards live on four islands in the country of Indonesia. They live in hot and dry places like grasslands or savannas. At night, they live in burrows that they have dug to retain heat.
What do Komodo Dragons eat?
Komodo dragons are carnivores and therefore hunt and eat other animals. Their favorite meal is deer, but they eat almost any animal they catch, including pigs and sometimes water buffalo.
When hunting, they are motionless and wait for their prey to approach. They then ambush their prey by running faster than 12 miles per hour. Once they have caught their prey, they have sharp claws and teeth to knock it down quickly. They eat their prey in large pieces and even swallow some animals whole.
The Komodo dragon also has deadly bacteria in its saliva. Once bitten, an animal will soon get sick and die. Komodo will sometimes chase escaped prey until it collapses, although this can take about a day.
Are Komodo Dragons endangered?
Correct. They are currently listed as vulnerable. This is due to human hunting, natural disasters and lack of spawning females. They are protected by Indonesian law and have Komodo National Park where their habitat is preserved.
Interesting Facts about Komodo Dragons
It can eat up to 80% of its body weight in one meal.
Young Komodo dragons must run and climb trees as quickly as possible when they are hatched to avoid being eaten by adults.
It is a kind of monitor lizard. They are at the top of the food chain on the islands where they live.
Humans didn’t know Komodo existed until about 100 years ago. Imagine the surprise of the person who first discovered it?
They can be seen in more than 30 North American zoos.