© Charlotte Ellis, Zoological Society of LondonKomodo dragons are the largest living reptile, growing to more than three metres in length and weighing 80kg on average.
A study led by researchers from King's College London, who carried out their work with advanced chemical and structural imaging, revealed protective iron coats in orange pigment found in the tips and serrations of Komodo dragon teeth.
"This feature has never been reported before in a carnivorous reptile," said the study published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.
© ShutterstockA kimodo dragon sunbasks in Komodo National Park, Indonesia
The study said concentrated iron played "a crucial role in supporting serrated teeth" in the huge lizards, who use them to kill their prey.
They prey on a range of animals from rodents to water buffalo and kill using a one-two punch of sharp teeth and a venomous bite.
© Nature Ecology & Evolution (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02477-7a, Lateral view of the skull of V. komodoensis (Natural History Museum, London, NHMUK 1934.9.2.1). b, Lingual view of a dentary tooth position showing several unerupted replacement teeth with orange pigmentation (American Museum of Natural History, AMNH 37912). c, Dorsal view of two erupted teeth from a fluid-preserved specimen (Zoological Society of London) showing pigmented cutting edges and apices. d, White light (WL) image of an erupted and unerupted tooth in the same specimen. e, Laser stimulated fluorescence (LSF) image of the same specimen, showing the pronounced serration pigmentation in both the erupted and unerupted teeth. f, Dorsal view of three left dentary teeth in NHMUK 1934.2.1 showing identical pigmentation on the tooth apices and mesial serrations. g, Lateral view of an isolated replacement tooth (Museum of Life Sciences, MoLS X263). h, Close-up of tooth apex in g showing the orange pigmentation along the tooth tip. i, Distal view of tooth serrations of MoLS X263 showing orange serrations and tooth apex. j, Polished thick section through mesial denticles of a tooth (Queensland Museum, Australia, J94036-2) showing orange pigmentation restricted to the enamel. k, SEM image of three mesial serrations of J94036-2. l, Close-up of serration enamel showing the bright coating. m, Close-up of the crown apex enamel showing the same nanocrystalline coating. Asterisks indicate pigmented regions. de, dentine; en, enamel; et, erupted tooth; gi, gingiva; ut, unerupted tooth.
Komodo dragons are found only in the national park of the same name and neighboring Flores island. Only 3,458 adult and baby Komodo dragons are left in the wild, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Thousands of tourists descend annually on the cluster of islands in the eastern part of Indonesia, the only place in the world where Komodo dragons can be seen in their natural habitat.
The reptiles, which can grow to three meters (10 feet) in length and weigh up to 90 kilograms (200 pounds), are threatened by human activity and climate change destroying their habitat.
More information: Aaron R. H. LeBlanc et al, Iron-coated Komodo dragon teeth and the complex dental enamel of carnivorous reptiles, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02477-7
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