Komodo dragons are the closest thing the real world has to a dragon. These massive lizards live on a few small Indonesian islands and can grow over 10 feet long, the size of a small car. The biggest ones weigh more than 300 pounds. Their tongues even flick out to “taste” the air just like a snake.
Western scientists did not even know Komodo dragons existed until about 1910. Sailors had told stories of “land crocodiles,” but they were dismissed as tall tales. When an expedition finally went out to see for themselves, they discovered the lizards were even bigger than the rumors had said.
A Komodo dragon’s bite is dangerous. They have sharp, jagged teeth and venom glands in their lower jaws. After biting a deer or pig, they only need to wait. The venom keeps the prey from clotting blood properly, and the wounded animal weakens until the dragon catches up. They can sniff out a meal from over 5 miles away.
