Researchers study the Komodo dragon with tools that reach inside the animal. A computer model of the Komodo dragon skull estimated a maximum bite force of 39 newtons at the best jaw opening angle. That number is a model estimate, not a measurement of a living animal, and it comes from a study that also found the skull lightweight and good at resisting a pulling load.

Chemistry has shown something about the teeth. Komodo dragon teeth have orange coatings rich in iron on their serrations and tips, which help keep their cutting edges. The teeth also have a new tooth forming about every 40 days, with up to five replacement teeth at each tooth position. Komodo dragons are the only living land animals with backbones that have teeth that are serrated, curved and blade-shaped.

Genes tell another story. Researchers sequenced the whole genomes of 24 Komodo dragons from the five main islands in the species' range. Females that produce young without a male can only produce sons, and a shortage of females in a population has led to evidence of inbreeding. Researchers once used genetic fingerprinting to show that two zoo females kept away from males had produced offspring on their own.

Nesting has its own calendar. Female Komodo dragons nest in August and September, while the scrub fowl whose mounds they sometimes use nest from January to April. One study found that female Komodo dragons chose mound nests over hillside and ground nests. A female lays about 30 eggs, and the eggs take about eight months to hatch.

Venom adds to the picture. A Komodo dragon has a compound venom gland in its lower jaw, with one large and five smaller compartments, and ducts that open between its teeth. The venom keeps blood from clotting and lowers blood pressure. Scientists reject the old idea that bacteria in its mouth help it hunt.

Counts and models give a picture of the whole species. As of 2021, an estimated 3,500 Komodo dragons lived on six islands in Indonesia. From 1981 to 2021, their numbers dropped from 5,000 to 3,500, and the IUCN moved the species from vulnerable to endangered. As of November 2026, the Komodo dragon is listed as endangered.

Words to know

• newtons: units of force
• genomes: full gene sets
• serrations: tiny notches
• inbreeding: mating of relatives