The Komodo dragon (or Varanus komodoensis) is a large species of reptile that lives on the Indonesian isles of Komodo, Rinca, Flores and Gili Motang. They are a dull green-brown in colour with wide set limbs with a wide gape, have a long, muscular tail, and a yellow forked tongue. The males reach an average length of 2.59m and usually weigh between 79 and 91kg, whereas the females are smaller, averaging 2.29m long and between 68 and 73kg.
Latin Name
Varanus komodoensis
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komodo-dragon
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Animal Facts
Komodo dragons are ambush predators; they lie in wait for prey and go for the throat when they attack.
Komodo dragons can swallow prey up to the size of a goat or small deer whole; after a large meal like this, they will slowly digest it and then regurgitate the fur, horns and bones.
Komodo dragons are cannibalistic; 10% of an adult's diet is juvenile dragons.
Komodo dragons apply potent venom onto multiple frenzied bite wounds from their sharp teeth. The venom makes the victim collapse from blood loss and shock after the initial attack, too weak to escape or fight back.
Female Komodo dragons can lay viable eggs without mating, but all hatchlings will be male.
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