Komodo Dragons Giant Reptiles

Komodo Dragons Giant Reptiles

Real Dragons If you've ever read stories about dragons, you know that they're huge, fierce, often fire-breathing reptiles with powerful bodies and sharp claws. If you think they're just make-believe creatures in storybooks, think again. The Komodo dragon--the world's largest lizard-matches just about every detail of a dragon's description. Komodo dragons can't exactly breathe fire, but their bite is almost as deadly.

Built to Fight Komodo dragons are the heavy weight wrestlers of the lizard world, and they're built for a fight. Grabbing their opponents with their forelegs, they attempt to throw them to the ground. They use their muscular tails for balance when standing upright, especially when two males fight. Dragons are covered with bony plates for protection from the bites and scratches of their opponents. Sharp, jagged teeth and huge claws come in handy in battle as well as for killing prey.

Island Home Komodo dragons live on five small islands in the Asian country of Indonesia. These hilly islands have a mix of forests and grasslands. The weather is hot, with rainy and dry seasons. The dragons on two of the islands are much smaller than those on the other three islands. Their smaller size is an adaptation to less food and a harsher climate.

Dragons are strong swimmers. They can swim from one island to another, but most stay on their home island. They often walk along beaches, looking for dead fish that have washed ashore. During the day, these giant lizards often deal with the heat by staying cool in burrows. At night, the burrows help them stay warm. They may dig their own burrow or use one made by another dragon. Komodo dragons usually spend their time alone-hunting, eating, and napping.

Dragon Food Komodo dragons aren't picky about what they eat-as long as it's meat! They're hunters, and they also eat animals they find that have already died. Their main foods are deer, wild pigs, and water buffalo. They also eat rats, snakes, bird eggs, and dead fish. In addition, adults eat young dragons! Komodo dragons can run to chase down prey. However, they're more likely to ambush and then overpower their prey. They often hide along trails, waiting for prey animals to pass by, and then attack.