New Delhi: Komodo dragons have become something like a sensation on the internet in recent years, thanks to their name and huge size. Recently, scientists have found out that the teeth of Komodo dragons are coated with a layer of iron that helps keep them razor-sharp. This discovery fas further heightened the status of the Komodo dragons, for it is something scientists have rarely seen in any animal.
The discovery was made when it was noticed that the serrated edges and tips of their teeth were covered in an orange pigment layer. It was found that the enamel had concentrated iron that made the teeth extra hard and resistant to wear, helping them to tear their prey apart. Similar iron-rich coverings have been found on the teeth of other reptiles, and this iron coating of the Komodo dragons has attracted immense interest from researchers and wildlife lovers from all over the world.
About the Komodo Dragons
Komodo dragons are the largest living lizards whose lengths are generally more than three metres and their average weight is 80kg. They are found in several islands in Indonesia where they eat almost any prey, from small birds to water buffalo and other Komodo dragons. They are mainly found in the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Flores, Gili Motang and Rinca.
Komodo dragons are apex predators who dominate their ecosystems thanks to their size. They hunt prey including birds, invertebrates, and mammals. Their way and expertise in hunting is unparalleled in the reptile world and their diet mainly has Javan rusa (Rusa timorensis), but they also eat considerable amounts of carrion. The eggs of these reptiles are laid in September and around 20 eggs are deposited at a time. Young Komodo dragons are vulnerable in front of predators; hence, they live in trees and try to repel by rolling in faeces. It takes 8 to 9 years for them to mature and they can live up to 30 years.
In 1910, Western scientists first recorded Komodo dragons and they became popular zoo exhibits. However, they are facing the threat of extinction due to the destruction of their habitat and illegal hunting, with only an estimated 3,500 left in the wild. Authorities in Indonesia have considered banning tourists to the islands containing Komodo dragons amid concerns that visitors affected their mating habits and made them lazy with food handouts. Climate change has also added to their trouble and the IUCN Red List has listed them as Endangered. The law in Indonesia protects them and in 1980, the Komodo National Park was founded to aid protection efforts.
Komodo dragons are the largest living lizards whose lengths are generally more than three metres and their average weight is 80kg. They are found on several islands in Indonesia. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
