A face-off between the world’s largest lizard, the Komodo dragon and the world’s largest land mammal, the elephant. Komodo dragon vs elephant, who will win in a fight?
Komodo Dragon vs Elephant: Animal Factsheet
| Komodo Dragon | Elephant | |
| Size | weight 70 – 80 kg length 3 m | weight 6000 – 10,000 kg length 5.5 – 6.4 m height 4 m |
| Speed | 10 – 13 mph | 25 mph |
| Attack | bite force 500 – 600 psi 60 2.5 cm long teeth 5 cm long claws | charge with tusks |
| Defence | armoured skin | size |
| Animal Senses | strong sense of smell | very intelligent strong sense of smell |
| Habitat | Indonesian islands Komodo, Gili, Flores and Rinca | Sub-Saharan Africa savanna |
| Diet | carnivore | herbivore |
| Lifespan | 30 years | 60 – 70 years |
| Predators | apex predator | no natural predators |
Related Article Mammoth vs Elephant Who Would Win In A fight?
Komodo Dragon vs Elephant: Size
Komodo dragons are the world’s largest lizard, weighing 70 – 80 kg (154 – 176 lb). They can grow 3 m (10 ft) long from the nose to the end of their tail.
Elephants are the largest land animal on earth, with the biggest species being the African bush elephant. Males can weigh as much as 10,000 kg (22,000 lb) and stand 4 m (13 ft) tall at the shoulder. These males can be anywhere between 5.5 – 6.4 m (18 – 21 ft) in length.
The elephant beats the Komodo dragon in size.
Komodo Dragon vs Elephant: Speed and Agility
Komodo dragons may look slow as they stroll along, but they can muster quick bursts when chasing prey as fast as 10 – 13 mph (16 – 21 kph). Elephants have an average walking speed of 4.5 mph (7.3 kph) but can charge up to 25 mph (40 kph) when threatened.
We have covered speed now. Let’s look at the agility of both animals. Before the Komodo dragon becomes an adult, it is light enough to climb up trees after animals quickly. It loses this ability once it has matured, but they are still agile enough to stand on their hind legs and fight each other like a scene straight out of Jurassic Park. Because of their substantial size, elephants lack agility.
It’s a draw as the Komodo dragon wins on agility while the elephant wins on speed.
Related Article Komodo Dragon vs Lion
Komodo Dragon vs Elephant: Attack
The Komodo dragons hunting strategy involves using stealth to sneak up on an unsuspecting animal. Once it is within striking distance, it will sprint towards its prey, aiming to bite the throat or underside of the animal.
Their bite force is 500 – 600 psi, but their razor-sharp teeth inflict the most damage. The teeth are only 2.5 cm (1 in) long, but when you have a mouthful of them, 60 in total, they can shred through flesh in no time.
It was once believed that a Komodo dragon had harmful bacteria in its mouth that would infect the bite wounds it inflicted. Scientists tested their saliva and found it no more toxic than other animals. However, they did find two glands in their mouth that does secrete toxins, but it is thought that most of their prey die due to blood loss.
The Komodo dragon can also slash at its victim with its 5 cm (2 in) claws on its powerful front forelimbs. Their muscular tail can be used as a whip to hit animals. Their tail is strong enough to knock deer off their feet.
In a fight, an elephant would not bite its opponent even though they have a bite force of 2175 psi. They instead choose to charge into battle head-on using their tusks that can be over 2 m (6.5 ft) to ram the opposing animal. The elephant has a long muscular trunk it can use, like the Komodo dragon’s tail. To knock over more minor threats like lions.
On pure predatory attack power, the Komodo dragon wins.
Komodo Dragon vs Elephant: Defence
Komodo dragons are the apex predator of their habitat, so the only threats it encounters are from their own kind. To protect themselves from bites and cuts from being clawed, they have a suit of armour under their scales. Their whole body, apart from their head, is covered in tiny bones forming a skin-like chain mail.
The elephant has no natural predators because of their gigantic size. If they do need to protect themselves, they will charge at their aggressor.
It’s a draw on defence.
Related Article Black Mamba vs Elephant Who Would Win In A Fight?
Komodo Dragon vs Elephant: Animal Senses
The Komodo dragon can see objects 300 m (984 ft) away, but it mainly uses its sense of smell to get around. They do not smell using their nostrils; instead, they use their long forked shaped tongue to lick the air. They process this information with a Jacobson organ on the roof of their mouth. They can smell carrion from 2.5 – 6 miles (4 – 9.6 km) away.
Elephants also have a powerful sense of smell and can sniff out food several miles away. Elephants are also highly intelligent animals able to remember and pass down knowledge of where food can be found and where to locate water in times of drought.
Komodo Dragon vs Elephant What Are The Differences?
The three significant difference between the two animals is the elephant’s enormous size compared to the Komodo dragon. An elephant is 125 times heavier than a Komodo dragon. The other significant difference is that elephants are herbivores while the Komodo Dragon is a carnivore. And lastly, the Komodo dragon is a reptile, while the elephant is a mammal.
Related Article Elephant vs Rhino Who Would Win In A Fight?
Komodo Dragon vs Elephant Fight Who Will Win?
When it comes down to a fight between a Komodo dragon and an elephant, the victory will always go to the elephant. The Komodo dragon may have a mouthful of razor teeth, but it is no match for the elephant’s colossal size and brute strength.
The Komodo dragon would only be able to bite at the elephant’s feet if it could get close enough to do that. It would need to dodge the elephant’s tusks and trunk. The elephant could gore the Komodo dragon with its tusks or knock it over using its trunk.
The Komodo dragon’s claws would be useless in the battle as they would be unable to slash the elephant’s torso because of its height. And it would be wasting its time if it tried its tail-whipping technique on the elephant.
So you see, the Komodo dragon may be the apex predator on its tiny island. It wouldn’t stand a chance against an elephant in battle.
Related Article T-rex vs Elephant Who Would Win In A Fight?