Research reveals Komodo dragons use Iron-coated teeth to hunt

A study published on Wednesday discovered that the Komodo dragon, the world’s largest living lizard, possesses iron-coated razor-like teeth that aid in killing prey.

A study lead by researchers from King’s College London used advanced chemical and structural imaging to uncover protective iron layers in orange pigment found in the tips and serrations of Komodo dragon teeth.

“This feature has never been reported before in a carnivorous reptile,” according to the study published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.

The researchers discovered iron-rich coatings most notably on Komodo dragon teeth, but similar coverings were also identified on the teeth of other live reptiles such as monitor lizards, crocodiles, and alligators.

According to the study, concentrated iron had “a crucial role in supporting serrated teeth” in the large lizards that utilize them to kill their prey.

They prey on a variety of animals, including rodents and water buffalo, and kill with a one-two punch of sharp teeth and a poisonous bite.

The researchers believe the iron coatings existed in carnivorous dinosaurs but were lost over time since they could not be found on the fossilized teeth of reptiles and dinosaurs closely related to Komodo dragons.

Komodo dragons can only be found in the Komodo National Park and the neighboring Flores island. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature reports that just 3,458 adult and young Komodo dragons remain in the wild.

Thousands of tourists visit the cluster of islands in eastern Indonesia every year, the only spot where Komodo dragons may be seen in their native environment.

Human activity and climate change are harming the habitat of these reptiles, which may reach three meters (10 feet) in length and weigh up to 90 kilograms (200 pounds).