FEATURE ARTICLE

Leapin’ Lizards! Is That a Real Dragon?

How would you feel if you came face to face with a dragon? Lucky for you, dragons are only make-believe.

But, wait. Here is a Komodo dragon and as you can see, it’s real. How can that be?

Despite its name and scary appearance, the Komodo dragon is actually a lizard. In fact, it’s the world’s biggest lizard. The average Komodo weighs more than 150 pounds and can grow almost 10 feet long. Most Komodos are found today on the islands of Indonesia.

Unlike storybook dragons, Komodos don’t breathe fire, but they sure like to eat. A Komodo can eat up to 80 percent of its own weight in one meal!

It can also swim, race up a tree, and run faster than 15 miles per hour. Now that’s one creature that’s not draggin’ its feet.