Komodo Dragon Fact #1

The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard. The largest verified specimen reached a length of over three metres and weighed 166 kg. Although the Komodo can run briefly at speeds up to 13 mph, its hunting strategy is based on stealth and power. Other than man, the Komodo is the top predator in its environment, which is unusual for a reptile.

Komodo Dragon Fact #2

The Komodo Dragon was considered a mythological creature by the western world right, up until 1912. In 1910, after hearing about these 'land crocodiles', Lieutenant van Steyn van Hensbroek of the Dutch colonial administration in Indonesia, went in search of the Komodo. He sent the skin of a 2.1 meter specimen, along with photographs, to Bogar Zoo in Java.

Komodo Dragon Fact #3

The largest living species of lizard has blood-tinged saliva due to their teeth being almost completely covered by gingival tissue, which lacerates during feeding. This creates a perfect environment for the virulent bacteria that live in their mouths – unfortunately it also creates really bad breath.

Komodo Dragon Fact #4

After feasting (on chickens, water buffalo, their own young, or sometimes man!) the Komodo settles down in a nice sunny spot to aid digestion – then regurgitates a pile of horn, hair and teeth (known as a gastric pellet) covered in a foul-smelling mucus.

Komodo Dragon Fact #5

In May 2006 a Komodo called Flora living at Chester Zoo produced five hatchings despite never having had contact with a male dragon. DNA tests showed Flora to be both 'mother' and 'father' to the babies. This phenomena is called parthenogenesis (from the Greek 'parthenos' meaning virgin and 'genesis' meaning birth). Parthenogenesis occurs naturally in some species, although this was a first for the Komodo.