Text and photos by Mary L. Peachin
April/May 2012, Vol. 16. No 5
Biting to kill, once the Komodo, the world’s largest monitor lizard, gets a taste of blood, it is impossible to separate it from its prey. Its toxic saliva produces a deadly bacterial infection, one that that slowly kills larger animals. Once the animal dies, even the hide will be devoured. They have no predators.
Komodos congregate while feeding or mating. Otherwise, they tend to fight with one another and cannibalize the young, weak and old. Hatchlings, to avoid being eaten, live in trees for two years.
The toxic saliva that kills other animals does not affect the Komodo. Older lizards often die from starvation.
Researchers have recently discovered that, like snakes, Komodo’s also have venom that interacts with the saliva bacteria.