See a Komodo Dragon Grab a Manta Ray and Feast On It

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This Komodo dragon has found itself a tasty snack on the beach. In the short clip below, we see the reptile trying to get the ray into its mouth. The fish is quite an awkward shape for the Komodo dragon to deal with, but we are sure that this predator will find a way around it!

What Do Komodo Dragons Normally Eat?

Komodo dragons are termed opportunistic carnivores. This means that they will eat whatever sort of meat they get the opportunity to put in their mouths! Very young Komodo dragons eat mainly beetles and grasshoppers. When they get a bit bigger they eat insects, birds, and eggs. Then, they move on small mammals such as rats and shrews as well as birds and reptiles including geckos, skinks, and small snakes.

Larger individuals eat larger animals including water buffalo and deer. They also feast on larger snakes and some will even eat smaller Komodo dragons. If they live near human settlements, they are perfectly willing to steal livestock including goats.

Interestingly, they also eat carrion and it is possible that this ray was already dead when the dragon found it. As they do not have taste buds, it doesn’t matter that decomposing animals probably taste disgusting!

How Can Komodo Dragons Eat Carrion Without Getting Sick?

Carrion is the word used to describe the bodies of dead animals. Komodo dragons are willing to eat animals that have been dead for some time! On the face of it, this does not seem like a very good idea. Dead bodies are full of harmful microorganisms. For most animals, this would be a recipe for disaster and would make them very ill if not kill them. Yet, Komodo dragons can eat decomposing meat without suffering any ill effects.

This is because they possess an amazing resistance to harmful bacteria. Their blood contains immunity to many of the microorganisms found in decomposing carcasses. This is an extraordinary adaption that has allowed the Komodo dragons to exploit a source of food that other animals are not able to. From an evolutionary perspective, this makes perfect sense even though the thought of eating rotten fish is repulsive to us!