Photographed at Komodo Island, Indonesia.


 

Family : VARANIDAE
Species : Varanus komodoensis
Size (snout to vent) : 1.5 metres
Size (total length) : 3.1 metres

References : Ciofi, C, 1999. The Komodo Dragon. In Scientific American, 1999, Issue 399.

Photo thanks to Tanya Kiener

The Komodo Dragon is the largest lizard in the world, growing to over 3 metres and weighing up to 150 kilograms.  

They are mainly scavengers but will also take live prey if they can, relying on stealth and waiting patiently until a prey animal walks past and then pouncing. They have weak eyesight and poor hearing, but like other reptiles their sense of smell is acute; the Jacobson's organs in the roof of the mouth are used to 'taste' scents picked up by the forked tongue. Their saliva is so loaded with bacteria that even if the prey manages to escape it will soon die of infection.

The Komodo Dragon is native to the islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar in eastern Indonesia. The species is well suited to the dry, scrubland which covers much of these islands.