It has a large, wide head, thick and bulky neck, barrel-shaped torso, and long tail. Its skin is covered with enforced scales, containing tiny bone-like structures called osteoderms, which act as a kind of natural collar. Osteoderms are absent only around the eyes, nostrils, edges of the mouth, and parietal eye (third eye).
It has a hearing range of 400 to 2000 Hz. In the past, Komodo dragons were considered deaf, but researchers questioned that claim. Its eyesight is poor at night, but it can spot objects from a 300-meter distance. It can also distinguish colors but does not react to stationary objects.
Similar to other reptiles, Komodo dragons use the Jacobson’s organ to detect, taste, and smell. Thanks to its waving its head left to right while walking, the Komodo dragon can locate carrion from a distance of 4-9,5 kilometers.
