Do you want to learn about Indonesian komodo dragon facts? The komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) or komodo monitor is the world’s largest lizard. It is mainly found in the islands of Indonesia. Over the past many centuries komodos have evolved to occupy their ecological niche. They are at the top of the food chain in their habitat.
Komodo Dragon Facts
Description: komodo dragons have pretty long tails which is nearly the length of its overall body. Komodo’s teeth measure up to 2.5 cm in length.
Size & Weight: Adult males weigh around 174 to 201 pounds while females average 150 to 161 pounds. The heaviest komodo dragon ever weighed up to 366 pounds with the length reaching at 10.3 feet.
Vision: komodos can see things from 980 feet of distance. However, at night their vision is quite poor.
Sense: komodos have acute sense of taste. They will detect their prey 4–9.5 km (2.5–5.9 mi) away.
Habitat: komodos make homes in a variety of habitats such as tropical forest, open grasslands, savanna, and dry grasslands.
Behavior: Thanks to its 3.3 to 9.8 feet long powerful claws which help komodos to dig holes.
Diet: Komodo dragons are super carnivores. They are opportunistic hunters. Komodos are thought to eat just about anything including carrion, wild boar, horses, monkeys, Timor deer, goats, bird eggs, birds, and many invertebrates and small mammals. They will swallow the entire goat in just 15 to 20 minutes.
Venom: Komodos have a venomous bite. The glands in their lower jaw appear to secrete toxic proteins.
Reproduction: Komodos mate in May and August and they lay eggs in September. Females lay as many as 20 eggs which are incubated for about 7 – 8 months. They will reach maturity at 8 – 9 years age.
Lifespan: Komodo dragons have a maximum lifespan of about 30 years.
Conservation Status: They are listed as Vulnerable species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
