Komodo dragon

The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard, a monitor species native to several Indonesian islands. It is a powerful predator with venom glands and serrated teeth.

Venom: A toxic secretion produced by an animal and delivered through a bite, sting, or other specialized structure. Komodo dragon bites deliver venom that can lower blood pressure and impair clotting.
Monitor lizard: A lizard in the family Varanidae, typically with a long neck, strong limbs, and forked tongue. The Komodo dragon is the largest living member of this lizard family.
Komodo National Park: An Indonesian national park established in 1980 to protect Komodo dragons and their island ecosystems. The park safeguards major populations on Komodo, Rinca, and nearby islands.
Rinca: An Indonesian island in Komodo National Park, known for its wild Komodo dragon population. Rinca provides a major site for observing dragons in their natural habitat.
Jacobson's organ: A sensory organ that detects chemical cues, often from particles collected by the tongue. Flicking its forked tongue lets a Komodo dragon track prey through airborne scent particles.
Reptile: A vertebrate in the amniote lineage, including lizards, snakes, turtles, and crocodilians. Its biology shares the defining ancestry and traits of reptiles.
IUCN Red List: A global assessment system that classifies species by their risk of extinction. The Komodo dragon is listed as Endangered, guiding conservation attention.
Flores: An Indonesian island in the Lesser Sunda chain and part of the Komodo dragon’s native range. Dragon populations on Flores extend beyond the national park’s best-known islands.
Ambush predator: A predator that relies on concealment and a sudden attack to capture prey. Komodo dragons often wait concealed before striking passing animals.
Island biogeography: The study of how island area, isolation, and history shape species and ecosystems. Isolation among Indonesian islands helps explain the dragon’s restricted native range.

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