‘Escaping, infected prey thus serve as vectors to spread the infection among lizard mouths.’

‘The model proposes that bacteria spread epidemically among lizard mouths via prey that escape an initial attack,’ say the researchers from the University of Texas. However, the researchers now believe that the bacteria actually spreads from lizard to lizard as well, making the entire community more lethal as their bacteria spread to each other. Researchers now believe one of the keys to their killing ability is down to infectious bacteria in their saliva, which can kill prey.

On the five small Eastern Indonesian islands it is found, the lizards can kill animals far larger than themselves, including water buffalo, pigs and Timor deer. The Komodo is the world's largest lizard, and can grow to 9ft long. The unlikely secret of the incredible killing power of the Komodo Dragon has finally been revealed - as poor dental hygiene. The unlikely secret of the incredible killing power of the Komodo Dragon has finally been revealed - as poor dental hygiene

Can you die from comodo dragon bite