Nature & Environment

Komodo dragons have teeth coated in iron, new study finds

By T.K. Randall
July 26, 2024 ·  2 comments

Komodo dragons have been known to kill humans. Image Credit: CC BY 2.0 Mark Dumont Measuring up to 3 meters long and weighing in at up to 160kg, the Komodo dragon, which is native to several islands in Indonesia, is the world's largest living lizard species.

Although they typically don't attack humans, these powerful reptiles have been attributed with several fatalities - no doubt thanks to their extremely sharp teeth and powerful jaws.

But there is one aspect of these teeth that makes the Komodo dragon particularly notable - it turns out that they are actually coated in iron to keep them sharp, something never seen before in any animal.

The discovery was made when researchers noted that their teeth were covered in an orange pigment which, upon closer inspection, was found to be enamel containing concentrated iron.This would certainly explain why Komo dragons can inflict so much damage on their prey.

Researchers now suspect that other reptile species may possess a similar coating, although it is not currently possible to determine if extinct species (like the dinosaurs) might have also had it.

"Using advanced chemical and structural imaging, we reveal that V. komodoensis teeth possess a unique adaptation for maintaining their cutting edges: orange, iron-enriched coatings on their tooth serrations and tips," they wrote.

"Comparisons with other extant varanids and crocodylians revealed that iron sequestration is probably widespread in reptile enamels but it is most striking in V. komodoensis and closely related ziphodont species, suggesting a crucial role in supporting serrated teeth."

Source: The Guardian | Comments (2)

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