Komodo Dragon

Scientific Name: (Varanus komodoensis)

Komodo dragons are the world’s largest lizard, with males growing up to 3 metres long and sometimes reaching over 100kg! They have large, streamlined bodies with a strong tail and powerful, bowed limbs. They have long, flat heads with rounded snouts and mottled black/brown scale colour which enables them to lie undetected by passing prey.

Habitat:

Komodo dragons live in lower forests and open grasslands on volcanic islands in Indonesia.

Diet:

Their diet can include insects, snakes, rodents, monkeys, wild boar, deer, buffaloes, carrion (dead animals) and even each other! Komodo dragons are very patient waiting for their prey. They lie and wait for long periods of time and when an animal walks past they pounce. They use their powerful legs, sharp teeth and claws to grab onto their prey. Bacteria that lives inside its mouth, slowly attacks the animal and they usually die of blood poisoning. The Komodo dragon will use its forked tongue to track its prey and find the dead or dying animal to then feed upon.

Threat:

Conservation Status: Endangered

Threats are habitat destruction, habitat fragmentation, poaching, human encroachment and natural disasters.