DietĪs the dominant predators on the handful of islands they inhabit, Komodo dragons will eat almost anything, including carrion, deer, pigs, smaller dragons, and even large water buffalo. When there aren’t any males around, female Komodo dragons have other means of reproducing: As they have both male and female sex chromosomes, female dragons can reproduce asexually in a process called parthenogenesis. Pregnant females then lay about 30 eggs, which they bury in the earth until they hatch eight months later. Males also sometimes wrestle one another to earn mating rights. When a male dragon locates a female, he scratches her back and llicks her body. Once a year, when they’re ready to mate, female Komodo dragons give off a scent in their feces for males to follow.

Though these athletic reptiles can walk up to seven miles per day, they prefer to stay close to home-rarely venturing far from the valleys in which they hatched. They prefer the islands’ tropical forests but can be found across the islands. Komodo dragons have thrived in the harsh climate of Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands for millions of years. They have long, flat heads with rounded snouts, scaly skin, bowed legs, and huge, muscular tails. Reaching up to 10 feet in length and more than 300 pounds, Komodo dragons are the heaviest lizards on Earth.

Current Population Trend: Unknown What is the Komodo dragon?

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