The Smithsonian’s National Zoo announces the death of Murphy, the Komodo dragon who was a crowd-pleaser for nearly 25 years.

Even more dangerous, Komodo dragon saliva is full of deadly bacteria. Their venomous bite isn't just painful; it's potentially fatal for prey. Once bitten, animals often succumb to infection or ...

This story appears in the November 2017 issue of National Geographic magazine. The Komodo dragon, the largest species of lizard now alive, can grow to 10 feet long and nearly 200 pounds.

This was only discovered in 2006, when a dragon called Flora mothered five baby dragons at Chester Zoo, despite never having been kept with a male. According to Joe Capon of London Zoo ...

Reptile Discovery Center staff at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s (NZCBI) campus in Washington, D.C., are mourning the loss of Murphy, a 26-year-old male Komodo ...