Komodo dragon, giant monitor lizard that lives on four islands E of Java, Indonesia; it is the largest lizard in the world. It is threatened as the deer and wild pigs on which it feeds are reduced in number by hunting. Of the 4,000 to 5,000 that exist, only 400 are mature females. Length: 3m (10ft). Family Varanidae; species Varanus komodoensis.
