The Biggest Lizard in the World | Komodo Dragon

Komodo Dragon Facts

The Komodo dragon has an unusual and spectacular size: this is its main characteristic. Being native to some Indonesian islands, it does not compete with other large carnivores that can occupy the same ecological niche. Its basic color is gray or light brown, although specimens living in desert areas have lighter skin to better adapt to the environment. The rest of the body has green and black areas. They have about 60 teeth in their mouths, which can be renewed during their life. Komodo Dragon uses its tongue to smell, detect tastes, and perceive stimuli (it even helps it find its way in the dark); they also use it during the courtship process to know if the female is ready to mate.

When they hunt, they may pounce on the neck or belly of their prey, no matter how large it is; they even devour it whole or with powerful bites that allow them to tear off large pieces of flesh. Their digestion is slow and requires a large amount of saliva, which makes their bite lethal (since it is impregnated with venom secreted by two glands in the lower jaw); when they are done, they vomit what they cannot process (hair, horns, teeth or bones). Since they have a slow metabolism, they do not need to eat very often.

Komodo dragon is the largest lizard in the world and the big attraction of Faunia. Come and do not miss the opportunity to see these impressive reptiles.

What Does the Komodo Dragon Eat?

The Komodo dragon feeds on carrion, although hunting is not excluded, as it is a carnivore and very wild.

How Does the Komodo Dragon Reproduce?

The months of July and August mark the breeding season for this species. In September, females lay their eggs (about 20, in large abandoned bird nests). They incubate them for seven or eight months until they hatch in April (when insects are most abundant). The young live in trees where they are safe from other predators and cannibalistic adults. Komodo dragons are among the few vertebrates capable of reproducing by parthenogenesis, meaning females can lay viable eggs without the need for a male.

Did you know that: The Komodo dragon is the largest lizard in the world. The adults are so large that they have no natural predators in the ecosystem in which they live.