Its saliva is loaded with venom and more than 50 strains of virulent bacteria\u2014any animal it bites will likely die within days.
", "is_us_only": "false", "title": "World Weirdest: Toxic Dragon", "url": "http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/animals/reptiles-animals/lizards/weirdest-komodo-dragon/", "country_code_deny_list": [], "allowUserEmbed": "True", "related": { "link": [ { "url": "http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/komodo-dragon/", "name": "Komodo Dragon Animal Profile" } ] }, "credit": "National Geographic", "smil": "http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/data/xml/weirdest-komodo-dragon.smil", "country_code_allow_list": [], "HTML5src": "/video/player/media-mp4/weirdest-komodo-dragon/mp4/variant-playlist.m3u8", "still": "http://video.nationalgeographic.com/exposure/core_media/ngphoto/image/62375_0_616x346.jpg", "transcript": "The small island of Komodo is home to the world's largest lizard, the Komodo dragon.
At 10 feet long and over 300 pounds, this monitor lizard on steroids is built to brawl...and its moves aren't bad either.
With a ground speed of 11 miles per hour, and a toxic bite, it has all the tools to be a fearsome predator.
But its most important tool...is its tongue.
Like its snake relatives, the Komodo flicks its tongue in and out to gather scents.
This gives it the ability to sniff out prey that's two miles away.
It just needs to get in one foul, filthy, infectious bite.
Some sewers are cleaner than its saliva, which drips with some 50 strains of virulent bacteria.
An animal the Komodo has bitten will likely die within a few days.
Then all the Komodo has to do is track it.
Though if it doesn't get there quickly, other Komodos will.
In the Komodo world, the biggest dragon gets the biggest share.
Its tongue is also essential for mating.
The male uses it to determine which females are in heat.
But getting a chance to woo her is another story.
She's not in the mood.
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