The world's largest lizard, the Komodo dragon, has a snake-like venom in its bite which sends victims into shock and stops their blood from clotting, according to Australian research.

It had been widely believed that deadly bacteria in the carnivorous lizard's mouth helped kill its prey. But magnetic resonance imagery has for the first time uncovered venom glands containing a shock-inducing poison which increases blood flow and decreases blood pressure.

That is of course if they don't first kill you with teeth, claws or sheer size.

A full-grown adult Komodo dragon can run as fast as a dog and swim faster than a human. They can grow up to ten feet in length, weigh up to 300lbs and they aren't afraid to get up on those hind legs. Now lets add in their powerful jaws filled with serrated teeth and their massive claws.

If the prey they're after is large it goes for the leg, tearing the hamstring. When the animal is down it then goes for the throat and belly. If the prey is small, it goes directly for the throat. That or they'll disembowel their prey with their clawed feet.

On top of all that, lead researcher Bryan Fry said three-dimensional computer imaging comparing the Komodo's bite with that of Australia's saltwater crocodile showed it used a "grip and rip" pulling manoeuvre to tear deep wounds, similar to a shark or sabre cat.

So, I guess just... don't fuck with any.