The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard species, found naturally on several Indonesian islands.
Adult Komodo dragons can exceed 3 metres in total length and weigh more than 70 kilograms, although wild weights vary with sex, age, and food availability. Their powerful limbs, muscular tails, and serrated teeth make them effective predators and scavengers.
The species lives on Komodo, Rinca, Gili Montang, and parts of Flores. Dutch scientists formally described it in 1912 after reports of unusually large monitor lizards reached the outside world.
A common mistake is calling the Komodo dragon a dinosaur. It is a modern monitor lizard, closely related to other members of the genus Varanus. Its saliva contains many compounds, but its hunting success primarily comes from strength, teeth, and venomous glands.