In this article, we will look into 50 Important Questions on Komodo Dragon that you should definitely know about. Komodo dragon, also known as Komodo Monitor is a member of the monitor lizard family Varanidae that is endemic to the Indonesia. It was first discovered by Western Scientists in 1910. It is known as the apex predator in the ecosystems they live in. Komodo dragon hunting style is unique in the reptile world. It is well known for its resemblance with the now extinct Dinosaurs. We will see some of the important questions related to this unique lizard family predator in below section.

50 Important Questions on Komodo Dragon You Should Know About

Also Read: 50 Important Questions on Sloths You Should Know About

1. What is a Komodo dragon ?

Ans. The Komodo dragon, also known as the Komodo monitor, is a member of the monitor lizard family Varanidae that is endemic to the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, and Gili Motang. More on wikipedia.

2. Where do Komodo dragons live ?

Ans. The Komodo dragon is only found on the islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang and Gili Dasami islands.

3. What do Komodo dragons eat ?

Ans. Komodo dragons eat almost any kind of meat, scavenging for carcasses or stalking animals that range in size from small rodents to large water buffalo.

4. How big is a Komodo dragon ?

Ans. Komodo dragon is the largest and heaviest in all the lizards on Earth. It can grow as big as 3m in length.

5. How fast is a Komodo dragon ?

Ans. Komodo Dragon are are capable of running rapidly in brief sprints up to 20 km/h (12 mph)

6. Are Komodo dragons endangered ?

Ans. Recently, it entered the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list of “Endangered” species, marking it as having high risk of extinction.

7. How long do Komodo dragons live ?

Ans. Komodo dragons live about 30 years in the wild, but scientists are still studying this.

8. How many Komodo dragons are left ?

Ans. According to current I.U.C.N estimates, there are just 1,380 adult Komodo dragons and another 2,000 juveniles left in the wild.

9. Is a Komodo dragon venomous ?

Ans. According to a latest study, the Komodo dragon ooze venom, not toxic bacteria, into bites to help weaken and ultimately kill their prey.

10. Can Komodo dragons swim ?

Ans. Yes, Komodo Dragons are known as good swimmers.

11. Do Komodo dragons have teeth ?

Ans. Komodo dragons have 60 razor sharp teeth up to one inch (2.5 cm) long.

12. How long are Komodo dragons ?

Ans. An adult male Komodo Dragon can reach a length up to 2.6 m and an adult female Komodo Dragon can reach a length up to 2.3 m.

13. How much does a Komodo dragon weigh ?

Ans. An adult male Komodo Dragon can weigh between 79 to 91 kg and an adult female Komodo Dragon can weigh between 68 to 73 kg.

14. How does a Komodo dragon reproduce ?

Ans. When a male dragon locates a female, he scratches her back and licks her body. If she licks him back, they mate. Males also sometimes wrestle one another to earn mating rights. More on National Geographic.

15. Are there Komodo dragons in Japan ?

Ans. No, there are no Komodo Dragons in Japan.

16. Do Komodo dragons lay eggs ?

Ans. Yes, Female Komodo dragons lay up to 30 eggs, which they will guard for several months.

17. Can Komodo dragons climb trees ?

Ans. The claws of Komodo Dragon are such that it makes them an ideal climber but only when they are young. Once they grown into a adult, they become too heavy to climb trees as adults.

18. How long have Komodo dragons been around ?

Ans. According to the study from the fossils of Flores, Komodo dragons first appeared on the island around one million years ago.

19. How tall is a Komodo dragon ?

Ans. The Komodo dragon can grow up to a maximum length of 3m(10 ft.) and weight up to approx. 70 kg(150 lb).

20. What color is a Komodo dragon ?

Ans. Komodo Dragon varies in color from black to yellow-grey depending on its location.

21. What can kill a Komodo dragon ?

Ans. Komodo dragon is known as apex predator. It means there are no known predators in the wild, at least not in their natural environment that can kill these fierce lizards.

22. Which is the largest living lizard in the World ?

Ans. Komodo Dragon

23. Are Komodo dragons bulletproof  ?

Ans. Komodo dragons are naturally covered in an armor which bullet cannot pierce and hence make them impervious to bullets.

24. Can Komodo dragons give virgin births ?

Ans. According to a study, Komodo dragons showed that virgin birth are possible. They can breed without the masculine companionships.

25. Are Komodo dragon smart ?

Ans. Yes. According to various studies Komodo dragon are found to be quite intelligent.

26. Do Komodo dragons spit acid ?

Ans. No, there are no signs or evidence of Komodo Dragon spitting acid. However, they do have both venom and toxic bacteria in their saliva.

27. Which is the heaviest Lizard on Earth ?

Ans. Komodo Dragon

28. Who discovered the Komodo dragon ?

Ans. Komodo dragons were first documented by Europeans in 1910, when rumors of a "land crocodile" reached Lieutenant van Steyn van Hensbroek of the Dutch colonial administration.

29. Do Komodo dragons eat people ?

Ans. The diet of Komodo dragons mainly consists of Javan rusa (Rusa timorensis), though they also eat considerable amounts of carrion. Komodo dragons also occasionally attack humans.

30. Do Komodo dragons hibernate ?

Ans. While some of the species of Lizard do hibernates sometimes during certain weather conditions but Komodo dragon do not hibernate.

31. How do Komodo dragons protect themselves ?

Ans. Komodo dragons has natural armor just beneath their skin made up of tiny bones. These bones cover the dragons from head to tail, creating a “chain mail” that protects the giant predators.

32. Do Komodo dragons live alone or in groups ?

Ans. A Komodo dragon is a solitary creature that lives and hunts alone.

33. Are Komodo dragons asexual ?

Ans. They are both sexual as well as asexual.

34. How did Komodo dragons get their name ?

Ans. Their name came from the rumors of a large dragon-like lizard occurring in the Lesser Sunda Islands.

35. Do Komodo dragons eat their babies ? 

Ans. Baby Komodo dragons are always vulnerable to cannibalism by Adults, that's why juveniles spend the beginning of their lives living in trees. About 10% of the Adult Komodo dragons diet comes from consuming its species young ones.

36. Is a Komodo dragon a dinosaur ?

Ans.  Many scientists and Paleontologists believe that Giant Komodo Dragons evolved directly from dinosaurs, and there are many similarities in their DNA to support this. Because of this, many experts believe that Giant Komodo Dragons are the closest living relative to dinosaurs today.

37. Are Komodo dragons cold blooded ?

Ans. Yes, Komodo dragons are cold blooded animals. Due to this they spend much of their time on sunlight.

38. How big is the largest Komodo dragon ?

Ans. The largest verified specimen reached a length of 10.3 feet (3.13 meters) and weighed 366 pounds (166 kilograms).

39. Are Komodo dragons playful ?

Ans. Yes, sometimes they can be surprisingly playful.

40. Are Komodo dragons blind ?

Ans. No, Komodos have good vision. They can see objects as far away as 985 feet (300 m).

41. What is a group of Komodo dragons called ?

Ans. A group of Komodo Dragons is called a Bank.

42. Where do Komodo dragons sleep ?

Ans. They sleep at night in burrows.

43. What zoos have Komodo dragons ?

Ans. Komodo dragon can be seen throughout the US Zoos like the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky, Toledo Zoo & Aquarium in Ohio, or Pittsburgh Zoo in Pennsylvania.

44. Are Komodo dragons parthenogenesis ?

Ans. Yes, Komodo dragons has evolved to reproduce both sexually and parthenogenetically because they mainly live isolated in the wild and become violent when approached, according to the zoo. Parthenogenesis happens when another egg, rather than sperm, fertilizes an egg, according to Scientific American

45. Are Komodo dragons peaceful ?

Ans. Komodo dragons are not peaceful animals, and they are definitely not friendly. There have been many cases where Komodo dragons showed aggression, especially towards humans and little children.

46. How many eggs can a Komodo dragon lay ?

Ans. Komodo dragons can lay as much as 24 eggs.

47. How do Komodo dragons hunt ?

Ans. They rely on their powerful sense of smell to detect food, using their long, forked tongues to sample the air. When hunting, Komodo dragons rely on camouflage and patience, lying in wait for passing prey.

48. How does a Komodo dragon eat ?

Ans. Komodo dragons eat by tearing large chunks of flesh and swallowing them whole while holding the carcass down with their forelegs. For smaller prey up to the size of a goat, their loosely articulated jaws, flexible skulls, and expandable stomachs allow them to swallow prey whole. The undigested vegetable contents of a prey animal's stomach and intestines are typically avoided.

49. How do Komodo dragons drink water ?

Ans. The Komodo dragon drinks water by sucking it into mouth via buccal pumping (a process also used for respiration), lifting its head, and letting the water run down its throat.

50. What contributed to the vulnerable status of Komodo Dragon ?

Ans. Volcanic activity, earthquakes, loss of habitat, fire, tourism, loss of prey due to poaching, and illegal poaching of the dragons themselves have all contributed to the vulnerable status of the Komodo dragon.