The komodo dragon lives in Indonesia and eats large animals like deer, water buffalo, and smaller komodos. It has a flexible throat and strong jaws to eat large chunks of meat, intestines, and bones. The komodo can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh over 350 pounds. It lives in volcanic habitats on small Indonesian islands and will defend its territory and mates aggressively. The komodo dragon population is estimated between 2,500-5,000 and may be endangered due to their small habitat range.

1. Komodo DragonBy Devon

2. DietThe komodo dragon will eat already killed animals, deer, water buffalo, pig, smaller komodo dragons and humans! The komodos will eat the same large carcass.

3. DietThe komodo will eat a lot of its prey, the intestines , skin , hooves and its bones.The komodo dragon has a flexible throat so it can eat huge hunks of meat.

4. DietThe komodo gets bacteria stuck in the teeth.The komodo dragon has a forked tongue to smell its food.

5. AppearanceThe hugest komodo dragon ever found was 10.3 feet. It weighed 366 pounds . The komodo dragon when hunting must rely on the background to camouflage.

6. HabitatThe komodo dragon lives on islands near Indonesia and the Island of Komodo. The Komodo habitat has volcanic eruptions and floods.

7. Life cyclesThe komodo will stand on its hind legs and it will fight for its mate. The komodo will guard her eggs for two months.

8. Life cyclesThe komodo dragon can live to live to be 30 years old.

9. ConservationThe number of the komodo population is between 2,500 and 5,000. Some say the komodo dragon is endangered.

10. Interesting factsThe komodo dragon has a scientific name. It is vananuskomdoensis. The komodo dragon is not a dragon but a lizard. .

11. The komodo swims side to side.Interesting factsThe komodo dragon’s bite is weaker then a house cat’s bite. Komodo dragons are great swimmers.

12. Interesting facts The komodo eggs will take eight months in a incubator to hatch.The komodo dragon is rarely bred in captivity.

13. Interesting factsThe komodo is the heaviest lizard on earth. The komodo has a sac of poison in its mouth.The komodo also has bacteria in its mouth.

14. Interesting factsThe baby komodo will eat eggs, grasshoppers, beetles and geckos.The baby komodo can go in trees but the older komodo can’t.

15. Interesting factsThe Island of Komodo was not completely known until the 1920’s. The Island of Komodo is 20 miles long and 10 miles wide.

16. Interesting factsIf the komodo wants to run fast, it will run fast.

17. Interesting factsThe komodo will put its claws on the wall and climb to reach its prey, for example a bat.

18. Sources Reeder, komodo dragons,2005.www. Honolulu zoo. Org/www.SanDiego zoo.comwww. ARKive. Org/ www. National geographic .com www.kidsnationalgeographic.com