Komodo, or more so-called Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis), is the world's largest lizard species that live on the islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Mota, and Gili Dasami in Nusa Tenggara. This lizard by the natives of Komodo island is also called by local names ora.

Including members of the lizard family Varanidae, and klad Toxicofera, dragons are the largest lizards in the world, with an average length of 2-3 m. Their large size is attributed to island gigantism, the tendency for the body meraksasanya certain animals that live in small island linked to the absence of mammalian carnivores on the island where dragons live, and metabolic rate are small dragons. Because of his body, these lizards occupy the position of a top predator that dominate the ecosystems in which they live.

Komodo dragons are found by western researchers in 1910. Her body is great and terrible reputation makes them popular zoo. Komodo dragons in the wild habitat has shrunk due to human activities and therefore IUCN include dragons as a species vulnerable to extinction. This large lizard is now protected under Indonesian law and a national park, Komodo National yaituTaman, established to protect them.

In the wild, adult Komodo dragon usually weighs around 70 kilograms,but the dragons are kept in captivity often have a greater body weight. Wild specimens biggest ever having a length of 3.13 meters and weighing about 166 kilograms, including the weight of undigested food in the stomach. Although Komodo dragons are the largest lizards listed as still alive, but not the longest. This reputation held by Papua lizard (Varanus salvadorii).

The Komodo dragon has a tail as long as the body, and about 60 pieces of sharp serrated teeth along approximately 2.5 cm, which is often substituted. Their saliva is often blood-tinged, because its teeth are almost completely covered by gingival tissue and this tissue naturally lacerated during feeding . This creates an ideal culture for the virulent bacteria that live in their mouths.

The Komodo dragon has a long tongue, yellow and forked. Komodo dragons males larger than females, with skin the color of dark gray to brick red, while the female is more colorful dragons green olives, yellow and have a small piece on throat. Young Komodo dragons more colorful, with yellow, green and white on a black background.

Komodo does not have the sense of hearing, despite having the ear hole.] Komodo is able to see as far as 300 m, but because retinanyahanya have cone cells, the animal is probably not so well seen in the darkness of night. Komodo is able to distinguish colors, but not how to distinguish stationary objects.

Komodo dragon uses its tongue to detect taste and smell stimuli, like other reptiles, with the vomeronasal sense using a Jacobson's organ, a sense that aids navigation in the dark. With the help of the wind, and his habit of cocking his head to the right and to the left when walking, dragons can detect the presence of carrion as far as 4-9.5 kilometers. Dragons nostrils olfaction is not a good tool because they do not have a diaphragm. These animals have no sense of taste in the tongue, there are few nerve endings of taste in the back of the throat.

Dragons scales, some of which are reinforced with bone, have sensory plaques connected to nerves that facilitate the sense of touch. The scales around the ears, lips, chin, and soles of the feet may have three or more sensory plaques.

Komodo dragons were thought to be deaf when a study reported that whispers, raised voices and shouting did not result in agitation (interference) in the wild dragons. This was disputed when London Zoological Garden employee Joan Proctor trained lizards to eat out with his voice, even when she could not be seen by the lizards.

Komodo is naturally only found in Indonesia, on the island of Komodo, Flores and Rinca and several other islands in Nusa Tenggara. Live in dry open grassland, savanna and tropical forest at low altitudes, this lizard likes hot and dry place. They are active during the day, although sometimes it is also active at night. Komodo dragons are largely solitary, coming together only to breed and eat.

Large reptiles can sprint up to 20 miles per hour in short distances; swim very well and can dive as deep as 4.5 meters, as well as clever climb trees using their powerful claws.] To catch prey that is out of reach, the Komodo dragon may stand on its hind legs and use its tail as a support. With increasing age, dragon claws are used primarily as a weapon, because of its large size makes climbing impractical.

For shelter, dragons dig holes 1-3 meters wide with the front legs and strong claws. Because of his body and the habit of sleeping in a hole, dragons can conserve body heat throughout the night and reduces the time sunbathing on the next morning. Komodo generally hunt at noon until late afternoon, but still shade during the hottest part of the day. Dragons hiding places are usually located in the dunes or hills with the sea breeze, open from vegetation, and here and there scattered dung inhabitants. The place is generally also a strategic location to ambush deer.

The evolutionary development of the Komodo dragon started with the Varanus genus, which emerged in Asia about 40 million years ago and then migrated to Australia. About 15 million years ago, meeting the Australian continental shelf and Southeast Asia allowed the lizards moved into the territory now known as Indonesia. Komodo is believed to have evolved from its Australian ancestors 4 million years ago, and expanded its range into eastern territories as far as Timor. Changes in sea level since the ice age has made the dragons agihan their range is limited to the present.