Advertisement
Langgam Pos - New facts have emerged: Komodo dragon teeth are coated with iron! This iron layer on Komodo dragon teeth is razor-sharp and helps them kill their prey effectively.
A study led by researchers from King's College London employed advanced chemical and structural imaging techniques to analyze Komodo dragon teeth (Varanus komodoensis). The findings uncovered a protective iron layer within the orange pigment found at the tips and serrations of Komodo dragon teeth.
"This feature has not been previously reported in carnivorous reptiles," the researchers wrote.
The study revealed that Komodo dragon teeth have a high iron content, particularly evident in the teeth's serrated edges. Similar iron-rich layers were also found in the teeth of other reptiles, such as monitor lizards, crocodiles, and alligators.
The research indicates that the high iron concentration is crucial for developing the serrated teeth of this giant lizard to kill its prey. Komodo dragons hunt a variety of animals, from rats to water buffalo. They kill their prey with sharp teeth and venomous bites—double kill!
Researchers believe that iron-coated teeth might have existed in carnivorous dinosaurs from the past. However, scientists have not found evidence of this in the fossil teeth of reptiles and dinosaurs closely related to the Komodo dragon.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, only 3,458 adult and juvenile Komodo dragons remain in the wild. These dragons are found exclusively in Komodo National Park, on Komodo Island, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
Every year, thousands of tourists visit the Komodo dragon's native habitat. Komodo dragons can grow up to three meters (10 feet) long and weigh up to 90 kilograms (200 pounds), facing threats from human activities and climate change that are destroying their natural habitat.
The research report titled "Iron-coated Komodo dragon teeth and the complex dental enamel of carnivorous reptiles," authored by researcher Aaron RH LeBlanc and colleagues, was published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution on July 24, 2024.
(*)
Tags: Komodo Dragon, Iron-Coated Teeth, Carnivorous Reptiles, Scientific Discovery, Varanus Komodoensis, Reptile Teeth, Nature Ecology & Evolution, Animal Adaptations, Wildlife Conservation, Komodo Dragon Research, King’s College London Study, Iron Layer in Teeth, Dinosaur Teeth, Reptile Enamel, Komodo Dragon Facts
