Image: The known fossil bones of Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis) from Australia. Credit, Scott Hocknull, original base skeletal drawing by Laurie Beirne © 2009 Queensland Museum.
Varanus komodoensis is a venomous Komodo dragon-like goanna growing up to 3 metres long. Learn more about Varanus komodoensis:
- Lived 4 million – 40,000 years ago
- Giant monitor lizard growing up to 3 metres long
- Razor sharp teeth for slicing flesh
- Meat eater, both predator and scavenger
- Venomous saliva which acts as an anticoagulant
- Arrived on the island of Flores over 900,000 years ago
- Threatened with extinction on last remaining islands surrounding Komodo Island
- Fossils of Komodo Dragons have been found in south-eastern, central-eastern and north-eastern Queensland
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