{
  "id": 10437403,
  "title": "The Komodo dragon is the world’s largest living lizard",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/the-komodo-dragon-is-the-worlds-largest-living-lizard",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-28T11:30:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "EarthSky",
    "slug": "earthsky",
    "url": "https://earthsky.org/earth/the-komodo-dragon-is-the-world-largest-living-lizard/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Komodo dragon holds the title of being the world's largest living lizard. Reaching lengths over 10 feet (3 meters) and weighing up to 200 pounds (90 kilograms), this reptile commands a fearsome presence. Its robust, muscular body is bolstered by powerful legs and long, curved claws utilized for digging burrows, holding prey, and self-defense. A distinctive feature of the Komodo dragon is its prehistoric visage complemented by serrated teeth and venom glands.\n\nStealthy in its approach, this dragon can detect food from miles away, thanks to its highly developed sense of smell. Its forked tongue gathers chemical particles from the environment, conveying the scent to the Jacobson's organ in the roof of its mouth for analysis. This chemical sense of smell allows the Komodo dragon to track its prey from considerable distances.\n\nTheir bite is a lethal combination of serrated teeth, a powerful neck, and pulling motion facilitated by their massive body weight. Komodo dragons also possess venom glands in their lower jaws, which promote bleeding and interfere with blood clotting, making it easier for them to incapacitate their prey.\n\nDespite their formidable hunting skills, Komodo dragons are opportunistic feeders. They consume a wide range of food, including large mammals, birds, eggs, other reptiles, and even other Komodo dragons. This dietary flexibility aids their survival in the diverse ecosystem of the islands where they reside.\n\nAs juveniles, Komodo dragons face a challenging journey. They spend their early years in trees to evade adult predators, who are known for their cannibalistic behavior. This tree-dwelling lifestyle provides survival advantages but also necessitates a shift in their feeding habits.",
  "summary": "The Komodo dragon is the world’s largest lizard. It's a venomous predator that can hunt, swim between islands and reproduce without a mate. The post The Komodo dragon is the world’s largest living lizard first appeared on EarthSky .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}