What is the largest lizard?

The largest lizard is the Komodo dragon. Also called the Komodo monitor, Varanus komodoensis is the largest living lizard species by overall body mass and length among extant lizards.

Komodo dragons are native to several Indonesian islands, including Komodo, Rinca and Flores. Large males can reach about 3 metres in total length, including the tail, and exceptionally large individuals can weigh more than 80 kilograms in the wild. Their heavy bodies, powerful jaws and serrated teeth make them apex predators in their island ecosystems.

The Asian water monitor is sometimes described as the longest lizard because exceptional individuals can exceed 3 metres, but it is generally much more slender and lighter. The extinct megalania was larger than any living lizard, so the Komodo dragon holds the record specifically among living species. Komodo dragons are endangered and protected in Indonesia.