The Komodo dragon can eat up to 80% of its own body weight in one single meal. The bite contains fatal poison, and it is only a question of time until the animal lies down to die. Once bitten, the victim does not have a chance to get away. If the prey tries to escape afterwards, the Komodo dragon follows without haste. Then it attacks with its long claws and its short but sharp teeth. If the loner is hungry, it hides next to a trail and waits for some prey to pass by. No matter if pigs, harts, wild buffalos, snakes, or fish – the Komodo dragon never refuses a decent meal. The poison inhibits blood coalgulation and reduces the blood pressure and therefore causes a severe loss of blood in addition to spasms, shocks and unconsciousness. Yet, meanwhile scientists have proven that Komodo dragons have poison glands which transmit poisonous proteins into the wound of the victim. Poison or Bacteria? For a long time, people believed that the Komodo dragon transmits bacteria from its mouth when biting, so that the victim dies from an ongoing infection. Even if its victim is about 6 miles (9.5 km) away, the Komodo dragon can “taste” it already. It uses its tongue to sniff out its prey. Most lizards are omnivores, but the Komodo dragon exclusively feeds on meat. Komodo Dragon - Photo: Sergey Uryadnikov/Shutterstock Behavior What Do Komodo Dragons Eat? It is the biggest carnivore in its habitat. It does not have any natural enemies and thus occupies an ecological niche on the islands. The Komodo dragon only lives on a few Indonesian islands: Komodo (where the name comes from), Rinca, Gili Motang and Flores. Komodo Dragon - Photo: Sergey Uryadnikov/Shutterstock Habitat Where Do Komodo Dragons Live? Its appearance may remind you of a dragon from medieval legends.

Its specific characteristics are its short, clunky legs, the clay-like color, the skin with armored scales, the long tail and the long tongue. It has been living on this planet for more than 130 millions of years, but it was not discovered before 1912. There are more than 3,000 lizard species in the world, but the Komodo dragon holds the record for being the biggest living lizard worldwide.

Up to 10.3 ft (3.13 m) (largest specimen)

Pet comodo dragon