Rummer, Jodie L. (2009) Komodo dragon's "pearly whites" pack a 1-2-3 deadly punch. Journal of Experimental Biology, 212 (21). iv-iv.

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Abstract

[Extract] Indonesian Komodo Dragons (Varanus komodensis) are clever, stealthy predators, possessing a mysteriously deadly bite. Some scientists blame pathogenic bacteria that reside in the lizard's mouths (due to their diet of rotting flesh) for the reptile's lethal bite. But Bryan Fry, a leading venom researcher in Australia, and 27 colleagues noted inconsistencies with this explanation and suggested an alternative hypothesis. They suspect that the lizards kill their prey by utilizing a 'sophisticated combined-arsenal killing apparatus'. Essentially, there is more to the deadly bite than dirty mouths!

Item ID:	33089
Item Type:	Article (Commentary)
ISSN:	1477-9145
Date Deposited:	26 Aug 2016 04:31
FoR Codes:	06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0603 Evolutionary Biology > 060309 Phylogeny and Comparative Analysis @ 50% 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0606 Physiology > 060603 Animal Physiology Systems @ 50%
SEO Codes:	97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences @ 100%
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