Student Article
Iron-Coated Teeth: The Secret of Komodo Dragons
Iron (noun): A strong, hard metal.
Prey (noun): An animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal.
Dense (adjective): Thick or packed closely together.
Discovery (noun): Finding out something new.
Scientists have found out something amazing about Komodo dragons. These big lizards have teeth coated with iron! This iron keeps their teeth very sharp, so they can easily tear through the meat of their prey.
What are Komodo dragons?
Komodo dragons are the biggest lizards in the world. They live in Indonesia and can weigh as much as 176 lb. (80 kg). They have sharp, curved teeth that help them hunt and eat animals like deer and water buffaloes.
Iron-coated teeth
Researchers from King's College London discovered that Komodo dragons have a lot of iron on the edges and tips of their teeth. This iron makes their teeth very strong and sharp. The iron is so dense that it even turns their teeth orange!
The dinosaur connection
This discovery helps scientists understand more about how Komodo dragons hunt. It might also give clues about how dinosaurs, like the T. rex, used their teeth to eat their prey.
© Daniel Graham / Our Media
Iron (noun): A strong, hard metal.
Prey (noun): An animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal.
Dense (adjective): Thick or packed closely together.
Discovery (noun): Finding out something new.