Komodo Dragon

Varanus komodoensis

Scientific Name: Varanus komodoensis
Location: Southern Indonesian Islands

History: The Komodo Dragon is the largest lizard in the world, spanning up to over ten feet in length.¹ Most males only grow to be around nine feet while females are usually seven or so feet.¹ A large male can weight over five hundred pounds after a large meal!¹

Although they are dangerous predators, they usually eat already-dead meat, as they are partly scavangers.² These creatures can reach the speed of most dogs for short distances, but they seldom need to chase their prey, for their saliva is quite deadly. No, it is not a poison; instead, it is highly bacteria-filled, which leads the biten creature to eventually die of infection (usually only one to three days later).²

Their diet consists entirely of meat, although the animals this meat comes from varies greatly.² Sometimes adult Komodos will eat younger Komodos, or they'll fish in a surf to catch fish, as they are reported to be great swimmers.² Pigs, deer, birds, water buffalo, rats, and just about anything they can kill and eat serve as a tasty treat.²

When a young Komodo first hatches, it only weighs about one-fourth of a pound. In order to survive to a later age, these dragons climb and inhabit trees, eating mostly insects. Since the older dragons cannot climb due to their size, the younger dragons are safe in the trees.³ When they hit the age of four, they generally are too large for the trees and are ready to fare against their elders, although they are the last of the dragons to feet upon a newly fallen meal.³

Interestingly enough, the Komodo's teeth are shaped much more like a shark's than that of a lizard's, which is one more reason why they are a top predator.³ These dragons use their teeth to devour up to eighty percent of their own body weight, which enables them to go without another meal for days.³

Komodos in the wild, if not eaten while young, can live up to fifty years.³

Physical Description: This is a huge lizard that grows to about ten feet, and it has a long, forked tounge along with powerful claws. Being that they can be more than two hundred pounds, they are a formidable preditor.

1. Komodo Dragon at Woodland Park Zoo
2. Endangered in the Wild: Komodo Dragon
3. Komodo Dragon at Woodland Park Zoo

For more information on footnotes and references, please see the Bibliography.