You've surely heard of these deadly beasts. Komodo Dragons, officially called Varanus komodoensis, are the largest lizard species that still roam the Earth. ... Komodo dragons can grow up to 10-feet-long and weigh up to 300 pounds but they can still outrun humans.
Is a Komodo dragon fast or slow?
Komodo dragons are solitary , coming together only to breed and eat. They are capable of running rapidly in brief sprints up to 20 km/h (12 mph), diving up to 4.5 m (15 ft), and climbing trees proficiently when young through use of their strong claws.
Are Komodo dragons fast runners?
Komodo dragons can run up to 18 to 20 kilometers per hour , or similar to a human being's average running speed. Their speed is one of their success factors in hunting their prey.
How fast can a Komodo dragon walk?
Though these athletic reptiles can walk up to seven miles per day , they prefer to stay close to home—rarely venturing far from the valleys in which they hatched.
What to do if a Komodo dragon is chasing you?
Though poaching is illegal, a shortage of rangers makes it almost impossible to patrol the large park, said Heru Rudiharto, a biologist and reptile expert. Villagers say the dragons are hungry and more aggressive toward humans because their food is being poached, though park officials are quick to disagree.
What happens if a Komodo dragon bites you?
They have slashing teeth and a very nasty bite, and their bites do tend to get infected , but this generally is not fast-acting enough to cause death. Their saliva does, however, contain a venom. The short answer is no, there is no antivenom for a Komodo dragon. ...
Has a Komodo dragon killed a human?
Attacks on humans are rare, but Komodo dragons have been responsible for several human fatalities , in both the wild and in captivity. According to data from Komodo National Park spanning a 38-year period between 1974 and 2012, there were 24 reported attacks on humans, five of them fatal.
Can you survive a bite from a Komodo dragon?
They have slashing teeth and a very nasty bite, and their bites do tend to get infected, but this generally is not fast-acting enough to cause death. The short answer is no, there is no antivenom for a Komodo dragon . ... ...
Has a Komodo dragon eaten a human?
A Komodo dragon has killed an eight-year-old boy in the first fatal attack on a human by one of the giant lizards in 33 years. It mauled the boy in scrubland in a national park on the eastern Indonesian island of Komodo. But it is very rare that a Komodo dragon kills a human. ...
What is the largest Komodo dragon ever recorded?
Komodo dragons—otherwise known as Komodo monitors—are the largest and heaviest lizards in the world, typically weighing around 154 pounds, according to the Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. The largest specimen ever recorded weighed a staggering 366 pounds and measured 10.3 feet in length .
Do Komodo dragon have teeth?
Komodo dragons have 60 razor sharp teeth up to one inch (2.5 cm) long. Lost or damaged teeth are constantly replaced. ... Their teeth allow dragons to tear off large chunks of flesh which they swallow whole. Their sharp claws are used to attack and hold prey.
What kills a Komodo dragon?
The fierce carnivore tracks the wounded creature and dines at its leisure once the prey collapses. Researchers have long thought that the Komodo dragon, native to Indonesia, kills via blood poisoning caused by the multiple strains of bacteria in the dragon's saliva .
Can Komodo dragons only run straight?
Unfortunately, even though the komodo dragon looks slow and somewhat lazy, they are in fact fast runners and can easily reach a pace of 18 kilometer per hour. Fortunately, the komodo dragon can only run straight ahead . ... It is not wise to climb into a tree because the younger komodo dragons can still reach you.
What is a Komodo dragon weakness?
The Komodo Dragon can smell blood from many miles away. It has no diaphragm, preventing it from sniffing odors accurately and drawing water. All these weaknesses are offset by its forked tongue, which helps to both feel and locate its prey and enable it to drink water.
Is a Komodo dragon bite poisonous?
Researchers have discovered that the bite of the world's largest lizard, the Komodo dragon, is venomous . ... But many experts have claimed the victims die after being infected with bacteria that cover the lizards' serrated teeth.
What eats a Komodo dragon?
They have a clumsy, back-and-forth walk, and their yellow tongues flick in and out constantly. The dominant predators on the islands where they live, Komodo dragons will eat almost anything they find, including already dead animals, deer, water buffalo, pigs, smaller Komodo dragons , and occasionally humans!
