London CNN —Komodo dragons, the world’s largest species of lizard, have iron-tipped teeth that help them to rip their prey apart, according to new research.
Komodo dragons are native to Indonesia and weigh around 80 kilograms (176 pounds) on average.
LeBlanc analyzed teeth from museum collections as well as from a Komodo dragon named Ganus, which lived at London Zoo until it was euthanized last year.
Analysis showed that iron was already present when the teeth erupted from the gum tissue, and was also present despite Ganus having a very different diet to wild Komodo dragons, he added.
The findings may help us understand how carnivorous dinosaurs, which had curved, serrated teeth similar to Komodo dragons, would have killed and eaten their prey, LeBlanc said.
Persons:
Charlotte Ellis, Aaron LeBlanc, LeBlanc, ” LeBlanc, ”, “, Ganus, Benjamin Tapley
Organizations:
London CNN, Zoological Society of London, King’s College London, CNN, King’s College London “, London Zoo
Locations:
London, Indonesia