Komodo dragon is a member of the monitor family, Varanidae. It is the world’s largest living lizards. It grows to be 10 feet (3 meters) long and weighs up to 126 kg and belong to the most ancient group of lizards still alive.

    It is found mainly in the island of Komodo and on other small islands, Rinca, Padar, and Flores. The natives call the dragon, ora, or buaya darat (land crocodile).

    The Komodo dragon has a long heavy tail, short, strong legs, and rough skin. It is covered with small dull, colored scales. It can sprint at up 18 km per hours, but only for short distances. When it opens its wide red moth, it shows row of teeth like the edge of a saw.

    Komodo dragons are good simmers and may swim the long distance from one island to another. Like other lizards, they swim by undulating their tails, and their legs held against their body.

    The Komodo dragon is totally carnivorous. It hunts other animals during the day. It hunts deer, wild pigs, water buffaloes, and even horses. While smaller komodos have to be content with eggs, other lizards, snakes and rodents. Komodo dragons are cannibals. The adult will prey on the young one as well as the old and sick dragons.

    Lizard digs a cave with its strong claws in the cave at night.

Komodo dragons are cannibals because ....