Komodo dragon facing left with it's large forked tongue sticking out.

Komodo dragon

Meat seekers
Type
lizard

Reptiles

Area
Map highlighting Indonesia
Indonesia
Endangered Status

Endangered

facts

size
up to 10 feet
in length
The average bed is 6.25 feet long.
Komodo dragon size in comparison to a bed
food
meat
Carnivore
meat eater

Komodo dragons eat wild pigs, deer, wild buffalo, snakes, and fish that wash up on shore.

habitat
grassland
grassland habitat

The Komodo dragon also lives in forests near beaches.

description

Komodo dragon sitting on wood chips as it gives side eye tot he camera

"Meat" the king of the lizards

Most lizards are omnivores, but not Komodo dragons. Meat is what they seek. Inside a Komodo dragon's mouth are about 60 short, sharp teeth that easily cut and tear flesh.

Komodo dragon in profile showing off its long, curved, forked tongue as it sits on a rock

Skilled hunters

Komodo dragons use their long, forked tongues to pick up smells in the air. An adult Komodo dragon hides along a trail and waits for an unsuspecting creature to walk by; then it attacks with its sharp claws and dangerous teeth.

Komodo dragon with its mouth slightly open, showing saliva

Toxic saliva

If the prey escapes, the lizard will simply follow it at a leisurely pace. That’s because the dragon’s bite contains deadly bacteria that will eventually kill its intended meal. Soon, other Komodo dragons will join in on the feast, fighting over the best pieces.

The magnificent Komodo dragon is endangered. Humans have disturbed more and more of its natural habitat and also hunt the same food these large lizards need to survive. But because they often eat dead animals as well as live ones, Komodo dragons help to keep the islands free of rotting carcasses.