![]() ![]() Males tend to grow larger and bulkier than females. Komodo dragons originated in Australia but expanded to the Lesser Sunda Islands. They live on this as well as other surrounding islands, known collectively as the Lesser Sunda IslandsRinca, Flores, and Gili Montang. These wild dragons typically weigh about 154 pounds (70 kilograms), but the largest verified specimen reached a length of 10.3 feet (3.13 meters) and weighed 366 pounds (166 kilograms). The Komodo dragon is a large lizard named for the island of Komodo, off of Indonesia. They use sharply serrated teeth to tear meat and their saliva is particularly poisonous, containing more than 50 strains of bacteria, which means that even if victims escape, without treatment they are likely to die of infection: the dragons trot after them, or use their strong sense of smell – reputedly able to sniff out decaying flesh at five miles' range – to track their prey. The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard in the world. ![]() They can climb trees, though they mainly lurk in scrubland waiting for passing potential victims, and have been known to eat up to 80% of their own body weight in a single meal. Komodo dragons, first identified by western explorers only 99 years ago, are meat-eaters and can move at up to 12mph in pursuit of prey. Indonesians, who are said to believe the dragons are reincarnations of their ancestors, have in the past propitiated them by sacrificing goats. Their tail is used for both fightings and for propping the animal up when it is standing on its hind legs. They are incredibly aggressive with long, thick bodies, short, muscular legs, and a powerful tails. There are thought to be only about 4,000 left in the wild on the five Indonesian islands they inhabit, Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Dasami and Gili Motang, although there are more than 50 in captivity, including 13 in European zoos. Komodo Dragons are enormous reptiles that can grow up to three meters long and weigh 150kg. Their diet usually consists of smaller animals, including other members of their own species. Though they rarely attack humans – and had not previously killed an adult for more than 30 years – an eight-year-old boy died after being mauled in 2007 and attacks are said to be increasing as their habitat becomes restricted. ![]() The carnivorous Komodos, which live for up to 50 years, can grow to 10ft in length and weigh up to 200lbs. ![]()
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