In the lush Indonesian archipelago at the Komodo National Park, a Komodo dragon, the apex predator of its habitat, tried engorging a moray eel. This was obviously a mistake. Here we compare the two parties of this encounter.
These creatures have muscular bodies and powerful limbs, allowing them to overpower prey much larger than themselves. Further, despite their size, Komodo dragons are surprisingly agile and fast when hunting or defending their territory.
Their scaly skin is typically a combination of earthy tones, ranging from grey and brown to reddish-orange. Additionally, this camouflage helps them blend seamlessly into their surroundings, making them efficient hunters and ambush predators.
The moray eel (Muraenidae) is a powerful creature in it own right – except instead in water. Moray eels can grow to 5–10 ft (1.5–3 m) in length and weigh over 44 lb (20 kg). They secrete a protective mucus over their scaleless skin, which can be toxic to other animals.
Moray eels usually have either dark brown or grayish spots against white, or whitish spots against brown/gray, which helps them blend into the murky waters where they reside.
I’m sure the Komodo dragon gave that meal a 1 out 5-star review.
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