Komodo Dragons' Iron-Coated Teeth: the New Findings in 2024

event 20 August 2024

category World News, Research

Komodo Dragon. Source: canva

Komodo dragon teeth have a very hard enamel coating. Komodo dragons use their teeth to tear through meat with great efficiency. Their teeth contain microscopic structures that make them highly resistant to wear and tear, similar to the properties of strong materials like metal. Komodo dragons are carnivores that use sharp teeth and venom to immobilize their prey, including deer and wild boar.

Komodo dragons (Varanus Komodoensis) are the largest lizards in the world. In Indonesia, Komodo dragons can be found in places like Komodo Island and Rinca. Komodo dragons are known as apex predators, measuring up to 3 meters long and weighing more than 70 kilograms.

Komodo dragons live in a variety of habitats, such as tropical forests and savannas, and reproduce through eggs. Despite being a vulnerable species, Komodo dragons are protected in Indonesia such as in Komodo National Park, which is an important conservation effort in Indonesia.

The Revelation of the Komodo Dragon's Iron-Coated Teeth

Skeleton of a Komodo dragon head. Source: canva

In July 2024, scientists from King's College London, Imperial College London, the Zoological Society of London, and several other institutions, released research in the journal "Nature Ecology & Evolution" that revealed that Komodo dragon teeth have an iron coating. This coating is used to help maintain the sharpness and durability of the jagged teeth, so that dragons can tear and chew their prey meat more effectively.

According to the Komodo Survival Program, the Komodo dragon has an average of 60 sharp teeth measuring approximately 2.5 cm in length that are pointed and curved with inwardly serrated tooth surfaces that serve to grasp and tear prey.

This is believed to be the first discovery of an animal with iron-coated teeth, although some researchers have suggested that iron-coated teeth were also present in carnivorous dinosaurs, but the coating was lost over time.

The serrated teeth of Komodo dragons resemble those of carnivorous dinosaurs. Photo: Dr. Aaron LeBlanc, King’s College London

The serrated dentition of Komodo dragons closely mirrors that of predatory dinosaurs

Studies conducted by King's College London, utilizing various techniques and methods, comparing the teeth of Komodo dragons with other reptiles such as monitor lizards, crocodiles, and dinosaurs, showed that the most prominent iron coating was only found on the teeth of Komodo dragons. This layer is also suspected and believed that the presence of this iron layer makes komodo dragons have teeth with the ability to chew and bite their prey more easily and ferociously.

According to Aaron LeBlanc, a dental bioscience lecturer at King's College in this study he revealed that the discovery of iron-coated teeth on Komodo dragons is a feature of reptile teeth that has been less noticed but is actually very common.

Conclusion

The study revealed that Komodo dragon teeth have an iron coating that increases the sharpness and durability of their teeth. This coating allows dragons to tear and chew their prey meat more effectively. This discovery is the first to document the presence of iron coatings on reptile teeth, although there are indications that similar features may have been present in carnivorous dinosaurs. The results of this study not only add to our understanding of Komodo dragon anatomy but also open up new possibilities in the study of dental evolution and adaptation in reptiles and dinosaurs.

Disclaimer

This article is based on information published in a recent study in the journal of “Nature Ecology and Evolution” in July 2024 and related sources. While efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information, readers are advised to verify data and information from official sources and experts in the field. The discovery of the iron coating on Komodo dragon teeth is the result of a recent study and may undergo changes or additions to the information as further research progresses. The author is not responsible for any errors or inaccuracies that may arise from the use or interpretation of this information.