Komodo Dragons

Komodo dragons are giant lizards with rough, bumpy skin. They have long tails and sharp claws. These huge lizards can grow as long as a small car. They live only on a few islands in the country of Indonesia.

Big and Strong

A Komodo dragon can weigh more than 150 pounds. It uses its long, yellow tongue to smell the air. It can run fast for short times when it is chasing food. Komodo dragons are the top hunters on their islands.

A map showing where Komodo dragons live.
A map showing where Komodo dragons live. (Original uploader was Tommyknocker at en.wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons)

How They Hunt

Komodo dragons hunt deer, pigs, and even water buffalo. Their bite has germs and venom that make other animals sick. They often wait for their meal to get weak before eating it. They can eat a lot of food in one meal.

Fun Facts

  • Komodo dragons can eat almost 80 percent of their body weight in one meal.
  • They have about 60 sharp teeth that can grow back.
  • Baby Komodo dragons climb trees to stay safe from bigger ones.

Did You Know?

Komodo dragons are named after Komodo Island, which is one of the few places where they live in the wild.