In the wild, a Komodo dragon’s life span is about 30 years. Those that wander continue to do so for their entire lives.

Those that are tend to live in a fixed area, which they protect. Interestingly, experts discovered that some Komodo dragons are incredibly territorial. They may gather for a feast when a large animal has died, after which they all dine together. Photo by abimanyu photowork/Pexels Adult Komodo dragonsĪs adults, these giant lizards live alone. It takes approximately five years for a dragon to grow to maturity, and at that point, they are often at least 6½ feet long. From that point on, it begins to live its life on the ground. In any case, as the dragon grows, it begins eating larger prey, such as birds and small mammals.īy the end of its first year, a Komodo dragon grows to a length of around 3 feet. However, Australian researchers now think they have a venom in their saliva, similar to snake venom, that works with bacteria to deadly effect. At one time, researchers believed that these lizards had hazardous bacteria in their mouths that caused the swift death of any animal (or person) that they bit. The trees also provide a readily available food source for the baby dragons in the form of abundant insects and smaller reptiles.Īll Komodo dragons are carnivores, and they actively hunt. Living in trees protects baby Komodo dragons from their elders, which would eat them without hesitation. In their early life, dragon hatchlings are camouflaged with spots and lines, which allow them to blend in with the tree branches and bark. Strange as it might sound, baby Komodo dragons spend most of their first year living in trees. If a clutch survives, only about 50% to 75% of the eggs laid actually hatch. Still, she soon forgets and leaves her nest unguarded. In the very beginning, the female may protect her nest from other female dragons. Many of the eggs never hatch, and sometimes predators, such as wild pigs or other Komodo dragons, will eat entire batches (known as clutches). The eggs incubate during the wet season, which lasts for about eight to nine months. These dragons usually lay around 20–25 eggs each year in the month of September. (That’s interesting, because a grown Komodo dragon is certainly more than twice the size of any chicken!) Each egg is about twice as big as a chicken’s egg. Typical of a lizard life cycle, the Komodo dragon female lays soft, leathery eggs. Although it might seem cool to own one, you’ll soon see why this would be problematic. The only people (or places) that can keep them are individual educational institutions and zoos. They’re an internationally protected, endangered species. Prank mode off: You can’t actually own a Komodo dragon, at least not legally.

We’ll also cover its life cycle and pretty much everything you need to know about this endangered lizard species! Photo by Tom Fisk/Pexels You can’t legally own a Komodo dragon In this article, we’ll tell you how long you can expect your Komodo dragon to live. They may weigh up to 400 pounds and can grow to 10 feet long. The Komodo dragon’s teeth are like razors, and this hefty carnivore can eat almost its entire body weight (up to 80%) in a single meal. But they are the largest lizard on earth. Of course, Komodo dragons are not the true dragons of fairy tales and myth.

Comodo dragon baby