Poem: "The Island Dragons"

Thank you! This is pretty cool.

That is so awesome.

>> Sadly though Komodos do not fly (don't even have wings) <<

Flight is optional for dragons. Eastern dragons don't have wings, for example, and neither do many other types.

>> or have breath weapons (fire, ice, acid or…). <<

That they do have. Komodo dragon bites tend to be rapidly fatal; their spit and breath can cause problems too. People are still arguing over exactly how and why this works. Among the leading theories are venom and hyperactive bacteria. My suspicion is that it's a combination of factors. Some studies suggest that their blood is toxic due to bacteria which do not bother the dragons but are harmful to other creatures. Trouble is, it's very difficult to replicate results when studying them. One team will find something, another tries to verify it, and may get similar results or totally different results. Which kind of makes me suspect a magical factor in play, because magic can make science go haywire.

That's so cute.

*pet pet pet*

>> ISTR reading that a Komodo dragon's bite will fester and not heal (absent prompt medical treatment, which is EXTREMELY recent to evolution), <<

I've read various iterations of that, and medical treatment is difficult because of the competing theories of what actually causes the problem.

>> and that the dragon, which is not quick of foot because it doesn't need to be, just follows along till the victim collapses, or slows down enough for the dragon to finish the job and start the meal. <<

Exactly. It's a useful hunting technique. Plus they enjoy carrion, so it's fine whether the dragon catches up to the prey after a few hours, or a few days.