What Do Komodo Dragons Eat? — Reading Comprehension

Komodo dragons are impressive apex predators and highly efficient carnivores, meaning their diet consists almost entirely of meat. These formidable reptiles are both skilled hunters and opportunistic scavengers, capable of ambushing live prey and consuming carrion, or decaying flesh.

Their diet varies significantly depending on their age and size. Young Komodo dragons are relatively small and agile, primarily feeding on insects, small lizards like geckos, birds, bird eggs, snakes, and tiny rodents. To avoid larger predators (including cannibalistic adult Komodo dragons), juveniles often spend their early years safely hunting in trees.

As they mature, adult Komodo dragons shift their diet to much larger prey. Their main food sources include ungulates such as deer, wild boars, and goats. They are even known to take down very large animals like water buffalo and horses, though these encounters are less common. Carrion also makes up a significant portion of their diet; their keen sense of smell allows them to detect carcasses from miles away. They will also prey on other reptiles, including venomous snakes and even smaller Komodo dragons.

Komodo dragons employ a stealthy ambush hunting strategy. They patiently lie in wait along animal trails, then launch a sudden, powerful attack. Their sharp, serrated teeth deliver a formidable bite, and their saliva contains toxic bacteria (and possibly venom proteins) that cause severe infections in their victims, eventually weakening and killing the injured animal. Once the prey succumbs, multiple dragons may gather to feed, with larger, dominant males typically eating first. Amazingly, a Komodo dragon can consume up to 80% of its own body weight in a single meal!

What type of diet do Komodo dragons have?

What is a primary food source for young Komodo dragons?

Where do young Komodo dragons often stay to avoid predators?

What is a common prey animal for adult Komodo dragons?

What hunting strategy do Komodo dragons use?

What makes a Komodo dragon's bite particularly dangerous?

What can Komodo dragons detect from miles away?

How much of their body weight can a Komodo dragon eat in one meal?