Komodo Dragons

The Komodo Dragon is a real-life dragon. Although they're not fire-breathers like our favorite mythical creatures, they have their own amazing defensive and offensive abilities. Here are a few facts about them.

Komodo Dragons are the biggest lizards on earth. They usually weigh up to 150 pounds,     although captive specimens often weigh more. The largest specimen weighed at least 370 pounds! (That is one danged big lizard!)

Komodo Dragons have septic pathogens in their saliva (in other words, the bacteria in a Komodo Dragon's mouth is pretty darned deadly). However, while these pathogens can be found in the mouths of wild Komodo Dragons, they disappear from the mouths of captive Komodos due to a cleaner diet and the use of antibiotics. (Also, I bet most of you didn't know that the same bacteria in their mouths is also found in their scales. In other words, a single blow to the skin by a Komodo dragon's powerful tail can also be fatal.)