In what could be an important story for anyone planning on losing their dive boat in the Komodo area, the Guardian are reporting that the Komodo dragon is venomous. They are known for ambushing and biting their prey, but then they let it go and the poor deer (or whatever) tends to bleed to death. Up to now most people have thought that their prey was infected by bacteria in the dragons’ teeth.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans done by scientists at the University of Melbourne have now shown up what may be complex venom glands in the dragons’ mouths, which had not been documented before. Brian Fry, the team leader, surgically removed the glands from a terminally ill dragon in a zoo. The venom causes a sudden drop in blood pressure, which can send an animal into shock, but it also stops blood clotting, so its victims bleed to death. Similar poison has been found in Gila monsters and snakes.
So if you’re visiting Komodo, don’t get complacent!
The above photo and the story come from the Guardian.
i like the komodo dragon.