Mark A. Metz wrote:

>Actually, Komodo dragons do not have a venom, but there is quite a flora of
>bacteria in their saliva that causes its bite to become septic in only a
>matter of days.  The infection becomes systemic and brings down the prey.
>Some sources report that the dragon will follow a prey item for weeks until
>it drops.
>
>
It's almost like not needing an internal stomach....the poor prey
predigests outside
the body, then all the predator need do is swallow. Many insects do this
too don't they..
not the most efficient system for either side. The dragon must waste a
lot of energy
following prey around.

I have not seen the SA cover either, but I would think the majority of

>reptiles have pretty moist mouths despite the habitat of some species (i.e.,
>desert).  I have seen several images of geckos with bubbles of saliva around
>the lips and tongue.  Any snake I've kept that backed off of a
>mouse/rat/lizard left a pretty wet mess behind.
>But who's to say about the thunder lizards!?
>
>
Are they the ones that projectile spit from their eyes?

>====================================
>Dr. Mark A. Metz
>Research Affiliate
>Center for Biodiversity
>Illinois Natural History Survey
>607 East Peabody Drive
>Champaign, IL 61820
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>====================================
>
>