The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), also known as the Komodo monitor, is a large reptile of the monitor lizard family Varanidae that is endemic to the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Dasami, and Gili Motang.

Mar 20, 2025 · Komodo dragon, (Varanus komodoensis), largest extant lizard species. The dragon is a monitor lizard of the family Varanidae. It occurs on Komodo Island and a few neighbouring islands of the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia.

May 7, 2024 · Family: Varanidae — monitors, monitor lizards. Genus: Varanus (Merrem, 1820) Species: Varanus komodoensis — Komodo dragon. Source: Integrated Taxnomic Information System (2017)

May 27, 2024 · Komodo dragons are apex predators in their environment. They prefer to ambush their prey and attack with great speed and ferocity. Their young are independent of the time they hatch and take to tree branches for safety. The Komodo Dragon is a large species of lizard that is only found on a handful of islands in the Indonesian archipelago.

Mar 9, 2025 · The Varanidae family, to which the Komodo dragon belongs, has a rich fossil history dating back to the late Cretaceous period, around 100 million years ago. However, the exact origins of the Komodo dragon itself are more recent.

The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is a member of the monitor lizard family Varanidae that is endemic to the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, and Gili Motang. It is the largest extant species of lizard.

Komodo dragons are large lizards with long tails, strong and agile necks, and sturdy limbs. Their tongues are yellow and forked. Adults are an almost-uniform stone color with distinct, large scales, while juveniles may display a more vibrant color and pattern.

The komodo dragon has the smallest range of any of the world's large carnivores, found only on the islands of Komodo, Rinca, Gili Motang, and Flores. It is also the primary predator of these islands and therefore serves a vital role in nature.

Komodo dragon is a reptile belong to the family of Varanidae. There are at least 70 species accounted for this family, distributed around tthe continents of Africa, Asia and throughout Australia. In Indonesia, there are at least 29 species of Varanidae, some of them are endemic animals including the komodo dragon or Varanus komodoensis .

Komodo dragons live on only five islands in southeastern Indonesia: Indonesia’s four islands within Komodo National Park (Komodo, Rinca, Gili Montang, Gili Dasami), and the island of Flores. The islands are volcanic in origin, rugged and hilly, and covered with both forest and savanna grassland.