See the Near-Mythical Size and Strength of Komodo Dragons as Two of These Monsters Clash

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This is a startling sight – two Komodo dragons locked in an intense battle. It was captured on the Indonesian island of Pulau Rinca. It was captured by a tour group and according to residents on the island, this sort of clash can last for up to 15 minutes.

Komodo dragons are usually solitary animals and their foraging areas are very large. Nevertheless, conflicts between males can result in severe injuries and even death.

Click below to watch the full video of this powerful interaction.

Where Do They Normally Live?

Komodo dragons have a very limited natural range. They are a native species of southeast Indonesia but are only found on the islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Dasami, and Gilli Motang. Their largest habitat is on the island of Komodo itself where they can be found all over the island. The Komodo National Park was designated in 1991 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It covers Komoda, Rinca, and Padar, and several other small islands.

Komodo lizards (Varanus komodoensis) are the most remarkable and famous inhabitants of the national park. They are of huge scientific interest because they are a relic of ancient lizard populations that once roamed Indonesia and Australia. However, it also has a rich diversity of other species including orange-footed scrub fowl and Timor deer.

The Impressive Physical Characteristics of Komodo Dragons!

Komodo dragons are impressive animals by any standards. To start, they are the planet’s largest living lizard. An adult can reach 300 pounds in weight and grow to 10 feet in length. Whilst younger individuals are more agile and slender, the adults are robust and have flatter bodies. One distinctive feature is their long neck which they use for sticking above the tall grass to get a good view of their surroundings.

These guys can inflict a lot of damage on each other’s bodies. They have sharp, curved claws, and their teeth are serrated and curved backward. These teeth are ideally shaped for tearing flesh from bone! However, their skin is also very tough so it hopefully afforded them some protection. We hope that these two magnificent lizards were okay after this confrontation!

Is It Normal Behavior For Komodo Dragons to Fight?

Komodo dragons are solitary animals and generally live alone. Males have a territorial range of slightly less than one mile and will only meet with other Komodo dragons during the mating season. These lizards are very aggressive and they will fiercely defend their territory as well as their nests. It is considered normal, and fairly common behavior, for males to fight each other, especially during the breeding season.

Their bites may be deadly to other species but it does not appear to have an effect on each other. Researchers found genes coding for proteins used in a blood-clotting process that allows Komodo dragons to survive bites from other Komodo dragons.

How Large Are Adult Komodo Dragons?

The Komodo dragon is the largest and heaviest living lizard on the planet, with an average weight of around 154 pounds, although they can reach weights of over 300 pounds. Like many animals, the males tend to weigh more than the females and fully grown adults can reach 10 feet in length. The largest Komodo dragon ever recorded was 10.3 feet and weighed 366 pounds.