Komodo dragons, found in Indonesia, are the largest lizards alive today. These fearsome hunters have teeth that are incredibly sharp, thanks to a thin layer of iron, according to new research.
Ironclad Teeth
Scientists have found that the edges and tips of Komodo dragon teeth have a coating of iron. This metal layer helps make the teeth stronger, enabling Komodo dragons to tear through the flesh of animals like deer or water buffalo without damaging their teeth.
Comparing Iron-Coated Teeth
Komodo dragons aren’t the only animals with iron-coated teeth. For example, beavers have tough teeth due to iron-infused enamel. However, in Komodo dragons, the iron sits on top of the enamel, like icing on a cake, says paleontologist Aaron LeBlanc from King’s College London.
Research Origins
LeBlanc and his team originally aimed to find out what made the teeth of meat-eating dinosaurs so good at cutting. They used Komodo dragons for comparison since they are the largest living reptiles with small, blade-shaped teeth. Under a microscope, the researchers noticed orange stains on the tips and serrated edges of Komodo dragon teeth.
Discovering the Iron Layer
Further analysis showed that these orange stains were actually a layer of iron. Teeth from other modern reptiles like some monitor lizards, crocodiles, and alligators didn’t show visible iron. However, some had a thin iron layer along the cutting edge, suggesting this feature might be more common among modern meat-eating reptiles than previously thought.
Implications for Dinosaur Teeth
It’s still unknown if carnivorous dinosaurs had iron-coated tooth edges. LeBlanc explains that it’s hard to study iron in fossilized dinosaur teeth because iron seeps into all parts of the tooth tissue over millions of years. The team hopes that further research on Komodo dragon teeth might help answer this question.
