How do Komodo dragons sense prey?

With a forked tongue tasting the air

How much can a dragon eat at once?

Up to about 80 percent of its body weight

Komodo Dragon Quiz: Venom, Hunting and Island Life

This Komodo dragon quiz meets the giant lizards of eastern Indonesia. Play 10 interactive questions on their size and weight, the islands where they live, Komodo National Park and its UNESCO listing, a forked tongue that tastes the air, venom glands found by researchers, huge meals, hunting deer and buffalo, virgin births and their endangered status.

Start Komodo Dragon Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Record
What record does the Komodo dragon hold?
Country
Which country is home to Komodo dragons?
Islands
Which island is one of their homes besides Komodo?
Park
When was Komodo National Park created?
Tongue
How do Komodo dragons sense prey?
Venom
What did researchers find in their jaws?
Prey
Which large animals do they hunt?
Meal
How much can a dragon eat at once?
Births
What unusual ability do females have?
Status
What is the Komodo dragon's conservation status?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: What record does the Komodo dragon hold?
Answer: Largest living lizard
Some reach about 3 meters.
Q2: Which country is home to Komodo dragons?
Answer: Indonesia
They live on a few islands.
Q3: Which island is one of their homes besides Komodo?
Answer: Rinca
Flores also has some.
Q4: When was Komodo National Park created?
Answer: 1980
It protects dragons and reefs.
Q5: How do Komodo dragons sense prey?
Answer: With a forked tongue tasting the air
They can detect carrion from afar.
Q6: What did researchers find in their jaws?
Answer: Venom glands
Venom helps weaken prey.
Q7: Which large animals do they hunt?
Answer: Deer, pigs and water buffalo
They ambush along trails.
Q8: How much can a dragon eat at once?
Answer: Up to about 80 percent of its body weight
They then rest for days.
Q9: What unusual ability do females have?
Answer: Reproducing without males
This is called parthenogenesis.
Q10: What is the Komodo dragon's conservation status?
Answer: Endangered
Rising seas threaten habitat.

Venom, Forked Tongues and Giant Meals

The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard, with some reaching about 3 meters long and weighing over 70 kilograms. It lives only on a few Indonesian islands, including Komodo, Rinca and parts of Flores. Komodo National Park was created in 1980 and later listed by UNESCO.

Dragons flick their forked tongues to taste the air, detecting carrion from far away. They ambush deer, pigs and even water buffalo along trails. Researchers found venom glands in their jaws, which help weaken prey. After a big meal, sometimes up to about 80 percent of their body weight, they rest for days.

Females can sometimes reproduce without males, a process called parthenogenesis, seen in zoos. The species is listed as endangered, with rising seas threatening its coastal habitat. Rangers carrying forked sticks guide visitors on walks to see dragons safely.

What This Quiz Teaches

Animal fans will enjoy these questions.

How big they grow
Where they live
How they hunt
Which abilities they have
Why they are endangered

Did You Know?

Young dragons climb trees to avoid adults.
Eggs are laid in nests dug by birds.
Dragons can run fast in short bursts.
Pink Beach in the park has rosy sand.
Manta rays swim in the park's waters.