Introducing the world’s largest species of lizard, right here at Australia Zoo – the incredible Komodo dragon! This venomous reptile can be seen soaking up the sun’s rays and just being drop-dead gorgeous!

These powerful predators are found throughout a small group of Indonesian Islands, including Rinca, Flores and Komodo Island. They can be identified by their long tails and strong, agile limbs.

Their tongues are yellow and forked and, just like snakes, they use this to ‘smell’ the air to detect their next meal, which may include monkey, goat, deer, reptiles (including each other) and ground nesting birds (megapodes). A Komodo dragon will produce a lethal bite, although it can take up to four days for their prey to die! They have strong jaw muscles and serrated teeth in order to efficiently tear and eat large chunks of meat.

Komodo dragons are predominately solitary animals outside of mating season. Females will develop a series of decoy nests to eliminate risk of predation! She will lay up to 20 eggs, which is called a clutch.

Komodo dragons have thrived in the harsh climate of the Indonesian Islands for millions of years. Fossils, from 50,000 years ago, show they used to live in Australia once upon a time! Due to the increasing threats of habitat destruction, poaching and natural disasters, these dragons are considered a vulnerable species.