An iron-rich mineral coats the jagged edges of Komodo dragon teeth, new research shows. It suggests that iron sequestration may be high in many reptile enamels, but that Komodo dragons have a higher concentration. To maintain their sharpness.
Komodo dragons have blade-like teeth with small indentations on the front and back and a thin veneer of hard enamel. Called gibodont teeth, they are a trait that has evolved in many species, including theropod dinosaurs. Such commonality, along with their slenderness, suggests that another factor makes gibodont teeth particularly useful for tearing prey apart.
Now a group is going around Aaron LeBlanc King’s College London in England studied the orange pigmentation of gypodont teeth in Komodo dragons. By comparing samples of teeth with reference materials, they discovered that the orange iron layer was composed of ferrihydrite. This layer reduces enamel wear compared to other parts of these teeth. Also, scanning electron microscope images show that the iron layer provides resistance against digestive acids, maintaining the sharp edges of teeth.
Reliance on fossils limits research on structure-function relationships in the evolution of dental tissues in extinct reptiles.. However, Komodo dragons can serve as a modern proxy for many aspects of dinosaur biology.