Komodo dragon ’ status as possibly the ultimate violent death auto has been enhanced with the find their teeth are tipped with iron . There ’s also reason to suspect predatory dinosaur may have used the same trick , allow them to puncture and deplume prey apart with extra upper .
It ’s a curious matter that arguably the near survivor to a livingtyrannosaurin body and doings – although not genetic science – exists on only a few small island , and flake of a big one , but there they certainly rule the roost . Komodo Draco ( genus Varanus komodoensis ) , the largest animation lounge lizard , have a killing charge per unit when run that put any other craniate to disgrace . They also have morehidden weaponsthan a ninja in a Hollywood action motion-picture show .
Already known for serrated , curving tooth , like many theropod dinosaur , a fresh work shows the tip and cutting edges are enrich in iron . This explains how their teeth remain capable of pulling prey apart despite an enamel coat much thin than in mammals .
The teeth of megalania, Australia’s extinct even larger relative of the Komodo dragon, show similar serrations to Komodos', but there is no sign of the pigmentation that would indicate iron tipping.Image Credit: LeBlanc et al, Nature Ecology and Evolution 2024 (CC BY 4.0)
Komodos are not unique in strengthening their teeth with the addition of the metallic element . polyplacophore likeCryptochiton stelleri , a case of mollusk nicknamed the “ wandering meatloaf ” , have alsoadopted the theme . Curiously , chitons are not terrifying predators ( although the image in the late contact may haunt your nightmares ) . They use the Fe to allow themselves to scrape their tooth on careen to collect algae and bacteria without them wearing down too tight .
Iron is a common feature in reptilian teeth , presumably append military strength , but the concentrations are humble . Puzzlingly , however , Komodo dragon and their nearest relatives are the only reptile we ’ve yet found that have ask this a stage further by condense the iron where it count . The capacity to impound iron into a distinct covering in just the right places appear to be a rare adaptation . This innovation keeps the serrated edge of dragon teeth astute than would otherwise be possible .
The branding iron does make the flying lizard ’ teeth orange , but other dragons probably call back that ’s sexy .
sacrifice that the resemblance between the form of Komodo dragons ’ tooth and that of the expectant predatory dinosaurs has beennoted for a while , it was lifelike for researchers to wonder ifT. rexteeth were iron - tipped too .
“ alas , using the engineering science we have at the second , we ca n’t see whether fossilise dinosaur tooth had high level of Fe or not . We call up that the chemical changes which take post during the fossilisation process obscure how much Fe was present to start with , ” articulate Dr Aaron LeBlanc of King ’s College London in astatement .
Nevertheless , the inquiry was not wasted . “ What we did find , though , was that larger meat - eating dinosaurs , like tyrannosaurus , did deepen the structure of the tooth enamel itself on the cut edge of their teeth . So , while Komodo dragons have castrate the chemistry of their teeth , some dinosaur altered the social organisation of their dental enamel to maintain a sharp clipping edge , ” LeBlanc said .
Nor is LeBlanc giving up on learning whether any dinosaur teeth were iron - canted . “ With further depth psychology of the Komodo tooth we may be capable to detect other marking in the iron coating that are n’t change during fossilisation , ” he said . Some such markers might pull round fossilisation , providing an result to the dinosaur question .
The team are also investigate some of Komodo dragons ' closest relatives , include some nonextant heavyweight .
It ’s a myth that Komodo dragon ’ mouthsharbor lethal bacteriathat speed sepsis in their fair game . However , that does n’t mean their size of it , f number , and fearsome teeth are their only implements of war . They have also been shown to have a layer of bony armor under their scale that has beencompared to chain chain mail . Then there is their venom , which somewhat ironically could prove alifesaver for diagonal victims , and roue withpowerful antibiotic capacities .
You ’d recall with all these magnate Komodo dragon would be the global apex predator , at least in the tropics , but apparently they justdon’t like movingfar from base , and will return there quickly if move . Having such a limited scope means that alter to their environment have put them on theendangered species leaning . tooth of Fe are no skilful if there ’s nothing to hunt down .
The study is published capable admission inNature Ecology and Evolution .
