[bob351]

So many myths surrounding this lizard.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...gon-venom.html

Saliva is not the culprit, many studies have shown there mouthes are comparable to other predators and probably you if you didn't brush your teeth.

They are venomous, as are other varanids as recently shown in studies.


for the lazy:

Komodo dragons kill using a one-two punch of sharp teeth and a venomous bite, scientists have confirmed for the first time.

The find dispels the common belief that toxic bacteria in the Komodos' mouths are responsible for ultimately killing the dragons' prey
An animal that escapes a Komodo's initial attack soon weakens and dies. The fierce carnivore tracks the wounded creature and dines at its leisure once the prey collapses.

Researchers have long thought that the Komodo dragon, native to Indonesia, kills via blood poisoning caused by the multiple strains of bacteria in the dragon's saliva.

But "that whole bacteria stuff has been a scientific fairy tale," said Bryan Fry, a venom researcher at the University of Melbourne in Australia.

[bob351]

Either way awesome video, I love monitor lizard from little ackies to these giants.

[Hobbslefthand]

I said nothing about the lizard

[bob351]

Apparently not, great post.