Reptiles
Helpful Tools
Top Ten: Komodo Dragon Facts
Until 1912, the western world thought the Komodo Dragon or 'land crocodile' was a mythological creature! Since then they've earned a reputation as a fearsome predator...
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.
Komodo Dragon Fact #6
Indonesia is the only place in the world to see Komodos in their natural habitat. The Komodo National Park, located in the centre of the Indonesian Archipelago was set up to conserve the species, whose future currently looks uncertain due to habitat loss.
Komodo Dragon Fact #7
The Komodo is the only lizard species to hunt and kill prey larger than itself and larger than it can swallow whole. Dragons kill large prey by rushing from ambush along game trails, biting at legs and tendons, maiming the animal and then trailing the injured animal until septicaemia sets in and kills it.
Komodo Dragon Fact #8
Komodos are efficient eaters, leaving only around 10 per cent of their prey untouched. They eat bones and even hooves. They also eat intestines, but only after swinging them vigorously to scatter their contents and remove faeces from the meal.
Komodo Dragon Fact #9
Komodos sometimes eat their own young. To avoid being eaten, baby Komodos often roll in faecal matter to assume a scent their elders avoid.
Select your bookmark
What is social bookmarking?