The largest lizards in the world rip apart prey with iron-coated fangs.

A recent study discovered that the Komodo dragons, which are the largest lizards in the world, have a protective layer of iron coating their teeth.

The roughly 200-pound dragons use their sharp teeth to pull off pieces of skin and muscle from their unfortunate victims, which can include larger animals like deer or water buffalo. The victims then swallow the portions of skin and muscle that the dragons have torn off.

These teeth's ends and sharp edges are covered with enamel made of iron, according to research that was published on Wednesday in Nature Ecology & Evolution.

Not many animals have iron in their teeth like komodos do. Both crocodiles and people, in trace levels, do the same.

However, scientists have discovered that Komodo dragons have an abundance of iron in their teeth, which is what keeps their teeth constantly sharp and ready. As a result, scientists have discovered that the teeth of these animals are frequently orange.

The researchers explained their results as a way to address a more challenging question: could predatory dinosaurs, such as Tyrannosaurus, which are similarly believed to have destroyed prey by tearing it apart with their teeth, also have teeth made of iron?

According to a statement from coauthor Aaron LeBlanc of Kings College London, that is now impossible to ascertain.

"We believe that the chemical alterations that occur throughout the fossilisation process mask the initial iron content," he stated.

 However, LeBlanc noted that more examination of the Komodo teeth might reveal additional iron coating components “that aren’t altered by fossilization,” enabling researchers to ascertain whether tyrannosaur teeth retained their iron coating long after the iron itself has long since vanished.

The discovery of iron enamel is not the first surprising dental finding related to Komodo dragons. It was long thought that the reason Komodo dragon bites killed their victims was that their serrations served as a haven for large numbers of microorganisms that might poison blood. 

However, 2009 saw the discovery by researchers that their venom actually kills

Source thehill.com