Omer 2019 Day 25: Komodo Dragons

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Omer 2019 Day 25: Netzach in Netzach, Endurance in Endurance
Komodo Dragons

Image by janwinkler from Pixabay

While a bit morbid, today's featured animal exhibits an extreme form of endurance in how they hunt and kill their prey. Komodo dragons were once thought to just be large, non-venomous lizards that ruled their island using brute force. However, in recent years, it has been discovered that these modern-day dinosaurs actually secrete a venomous protein in their saliva. Unlike cobras, who inject their venom into their prey and are rewarded with a tasty meal in just a few hours, Komodo dragon venom enters their victims through bite-wounds that the lizard must inflict. And then they wait. And wait. And wait some more. Then finally, the effects of the slow-acting venom that was oozed into the inflicted wound become too much to endure, the animal collapses, and the dragons feast.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!