July 26, 2024, London.
Researchers of King’s College London reported that Komodo dragon teeth have serrated edges and tips lined with iron. This iron coating helps the dragons tear through the flesh of deer or water buffalo.
Iron teeth aren’t unique to Komodo dragons. Beaver teeth also have iron-infused enamel. However, in Komodo dragons, the iron is on top of the enamel, says paleontologist Aaron LeBlanc of King’s College.
LeBlanc and his team studied Komodo dragons to understand what made meat-eating dinosaur teeth good at cutting. Komodo dragons, the largest living reptiles, have small, blade-shaped teeth. Under a microscope, the team saw orange stains on the teeth tips and edges.
Chemical and structural imaging showed these stains were a layer of iron. Other modern reptiles, like some monitor lizards, crocodiles, and alligators, don’t show visible signs of iron. Some species have a thin iron layer along the cutting edge, suggesting this trait may be common among modern meat-eating reptiles.
For ancient carnivorous dinosaurs, it’s unclear if their teeth had an iron shield. LeBlanc notes that iron is difficult to analyze in fossilized teeth because it seeps into the tissue over millions of years. The team hopes further study of Komodo dragon teeth will provide answers.