The Indonesian island that gives the Komodo dragon its common name is Komodo.
Komodo Island lies in Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands, between the larger islands of Sumbawa and Flores. It is part of Komodo National Park and is one of the principal places where Komodo dragons still live in the wild. The species’ scientific name is Varanus komodoensis, directly preserving the island association.
Komodo dragons are not restricted to Komodo Island: their range also includes Rinca, Gili Dasami, Gili Motang and parts of western Flores. That broader distribution is why “Komodo” identifies the species’ best-known home rather than its only habitat.
The animal was first documented by Western scientists in 1910, and Peter Ouwens formally described it in 1912. Komodo National Park was established in 1980 to protect the dragons and their island ecosystems. Java, Sumatra and Bali are Indonesian islands, but none gives this monitor lizard its common name.