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Description
National Zoo - Washington, D.C. please read all the notes?? please?

At an adult average of 10ft, this monitor is the largest living lizard in the world. Komodo dragons live on several Indonesian islands and it is not uncommon to see one propelling itself through the water with its powerful tail. This tail, as an adult, will make up approximately half the full length of the monitor. Komodo dragons are most commonly known for their hunting methods. Content enough with carrion, these great grey/brown lizards can hit speeds of 13 mph for a short period of time (I'm certain I could be out-run). The monitors have been known to hunt and take down small to medium-large animals, from rodents to pigs to buffalo to juveniles of their own species. The strength alone of this great lizard is not enough to take down prey as large as a water buffalo, and so the komodo dragon has developed serrated teeth, a foul mouth, and a strong stomach.

A bite from a komodo dragon is usually fatal (some attacked persons have survived). The komodo dragon does not possess a venom. The process here is, I should think, far messier. The serrated teeth of the monitor serve to rip the flesh, making it more susceptible to infection. This is the best part. The saliva of a komodo monitor contains 50 or more strains of bacteria. The result of such a bite is certain septicemia. Killing you slowly and rotting your flesh. The offensive monitor will track on its victim for as many days as it takes for the animal to fall. *cough*

* My favorite part of the above paragraph is that I only had to look up and verify the length and bacteria statistics. The rest is somewhat ingrained into my skull after many years (and I ended up getting a recourser on juveniles from my grandpa yesterday at the zoo, during which I learned a few new things). If you really want to know more, you can ask me.

Description
National Zoo - Washington, D.C. please read all the notes?? please?

At an adult average of 10ft, this monitor is the largest living lizard in the world. Komodo dragons live on several Indonesian islands and it is not uncommon to see one propelling itself through the water with its powerful tail. This tail, as an adult, will make up approximately half the full length of the monitor. Komodo dragons are most commonly known for their hunting methods. Content enough with carrion, these great grey/brown lizards can hit speeds of 13 mph for a short period of time (I'm certain I could be out-run). The monitors have been known to hunt and take down small to medium-large animals, from rodents to pigs to buffalo to juveniles of their own species. The strength alone of this great lizard is not enough to take down prey as large as a water buffalo, and so the komodo dragon has developed serrated teeth, a foul mouth, and a strong stomach.

A bite from a komodo dragon is usually fatal (some attacked persons have survived). The komodo dragon does not possess a venom. The process here is, I should think, far messier. The serrated teeth of the monitor serve to rip the flesh, making it more susceptible to infection. This is the best part. The saliva of a komodo monitor contains 50 or more strains of bacteria. The result of such a bite is certain septicemia. Killing you slowly and rotting your flesh. The offensive monitor will track on its victim for as many days as it takes for the animal to fall. *cough*

* My favorite part of the above paragraph is that I only had to look up and verify the length and bacteria statistics. The rest is somewhat ingrained into my skull after many years (and I ended up getting a recourser on juveniles from my grandpa yesterday at the zoo, during which I learned a few new things). If you really want to know more, you can ask me.