James Jolokia (james1203) · Original image & credits · CC BY 4.0
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Komodo dragon
Varanus komodoensis
Discover the island habitats of Komodo dragons, including populations beyond the national park. Compare how a young lizard and an adult use their surroundings.
- Featured region
- Komodo National Park
- Time
- Living today
- Habitat
- Dry savanna and deciduous forest
- Diet
- Carnivore
Questions, adaptations and evidence
Discover the island habitats of Komodo dragons, including populations beyond the national park. Compare how a young lizard and an adult use their surroundings.
Start with the questions below, follow the linked evidence, then try the discovery challenge with someone else.
Field observations
- Komodo dragons are monitor lizards.
- They commonly reach two to three metres in length.
- Their habitat includes dry terrestrial landscapes, alongside the park’s rich marine environment.
Map points represent broad historical or habitat regions, not live sightings or exact dig locations.
Questions worth exploring
DodoHistory field notes · Sources checked
Where do Komodo dragons live?
They are native to a restricted part of Indonesia. The Komodo Survival Program identifies islands within Komodo National Park and populations on the west and north coasts of Flores. The park boundary is not the boundary of the species’ entire range.
Komodo Survival Program · Distribution and habitats ↗What habitat do Komodo dragons use?
The conservation program describes savanna, tropical and monsoon forests, and mangroves, with dragons commonly found in lowlands near savanna hills. One landscape photograph cannot represent every habitat used by the species.
Komodo Survival Program · Distribution and habitats ↗What do Komodo dragons eat?
San Diego Zoo describes adults taking available animal prey, including deer and wild pigs. Young dragons take much smaller prey such as insects and geckos. A species-level diet summary can hide important differences between life stages.
San Diego Zoo · Komodo dragon diet and life stages ↗Why do young Komodo dragons climb trees?
Young dragons spend much of their early lives in trees, which reduces their exposure to predators. As they grow, they increasingly use the ground. The habitat needed by an animal can change during its lifetime.
San Diego Zoo · Komodo dragon diet and life stages ↗
