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The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), also known as the Komodo monitor, is a large reptile of the monitor lizard family Varanidae that is endemic to the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, and Gili Motang.
Komodo ( Indonesian: Pulau Komodo pronounced [koˈmodo]) is one of the 17,508 islands that comprise the Republic of Indonesia. It is particularly notable as the habitat of the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard on Earth, which is named after the island.
May 27, 1999 · Komodo dragon, largest living lizard species in the world. It occurs on Komodo Island and a few neighbouring islands of Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands. Popular interest in its large size and predatory habits has allowed this endangered species to become an ecotourist attraction, which has encouraged its protection.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
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Learn about the largest living lizards on Earth, their habitat, diet, reproduction, and threats. See stunning images of Komodo dragons in the wild and in captivity.
- 3 min
- Komodo Dragons Are Originally From Australia. While famous for being from the Indonesian island of Komodo and surrounding islands, the Komodo dragon was first discovered in Australia.
- They're Venomous. It was long believed that the thing making a Komodo dragon's bite so deadly was the amount of bacteria in its mouth. The scavenger beasts are constantly eating rotting flesh that would infect and kill any victim.
- They Can Take Down Enormous Prey. Komodo dragons are massive animals, and they can take down animals as large as wild boar, deer, and water buffalo. When now-extinct dwarfed elephants roamed the islands during the Pleistocene, fossil records indicate that they were able to take them down, too.
- Komodo Dragons Have a Permanent Suit of Armor. The Komodo dragon's exterior is composed of thousands of tiny bones under the skin. These bone deposits are called osteoderms, and they are not born with them.
Learn about the largest living lizard in the world, its venomous bite, its hunting strategies, and its habitat. Find out how the Smithsonian's National Zoo supports the conservation of this endangered species.
Komodo National Park. Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia Asia. Komodo National Park is located along the border between East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara provinces. Indonesia is comprised of more than 17,000 islands and Komodo National Park is found within the Lesser Sunda Islands.
