Along with razor-sharp teeth, the Komodo dragon also possesses bacteria in its saliva that can kill prey after biting.
The Komodo Dragon, the largest reptile in the world and infamous for its ferocity, has recently added another terrifying feature to its hunting arsenal. Scientists have discovered that the teeth of the Komodo dragon are coated with a hard, sharp layer of iron, enhancing its ability to tear through the flesh of its prey. This raises the possibility that dinosaur species such as Tyrannosaurus rex may have exhibited similar traits.
The Komodo dragon is the largest reptile in the world.
Measuring up to 3 meters in length and weighing as much as 150 kg, the Komodo dragon is the largest member of the monitor lizard family and the largest lizard in the world. They originate from four islands in Indonesia, where they hunt mammals such as wild boars and water buffalo, and occasionally even humans.
Previously, it was known that the teeth of Komodo dragons resemble those of many carnivorous dinosaurs, with a flat horizontal shape, backward curve, and serrated edges. However, an international research team led by scientists from King’s College London discovered that the serrations of the Komodo dragon’s teeth are also covered with a layer of sharp iron. This finding was made after analyzing teeth samples from museum collections and from a Komodo dragon that once lived at the London Zoo.
The teeth of the Komodo dragon are coated with a hard, sharp layer of iron.
The Komodo dragon’s teeth, with an orange iron coating along the edges, can be compared to the fossilized teeth of Tyrannosaurus rex. Scientists also know that other reptiles, including other members of the monitor lizard family, have some iron distributed throughout their teeth, but in much smaller amounts. In contrast, the iron along the cutting edges of the Komodo dragon’s teeth is visibly distinct as an orange stain.
Unfortunately, current fossilization processes prevent us from estimating the initial amount of iron present in the similarly structured teeth of carnivorous dinosaurs like T. rex. However, Dr. Aaron LeBlanc from King’s College London stated, “With further analysis of Komodo teeth, we may find other signs in the iron coating that remain unchanged during the fossilization process. With such signs, we can determine whether dinosaurs also had iron-coated teeth and gain a better understanding of these ferocious predators.”
The Komodo dragon originates from four islands of Indonesia.
This research, involving scientists from the Royal Holloway University of London, the Zoological Society of London, and other institutions, was recently published in Nature Ecology & Evolution. This discovery not only sheds light on the hunting mechanisms of the Komodo dragon but also opens the door for a better understanding of carnivorous dinosaurs of the past.
