Poor Dental Hygiene the Key to Komodo Dragon’s Deadly Bite
Scientists have discovered the secret behind the Komodo dragon’s deadly bite.
The Komodo dragon, the world’s largest dragon, can grow to up to 9 foot long, and is a native of five small islands in Indonesia. The dragons are able to take down prey much larger than themselves with their powerful secret weapon: a deadly bite.
Researchers have now discovered that poor dental hygiene is the key to the killer bite, with infectious bacteria found in the saliva able to kill off prey.
Researchers also believe that the infectious bacteria are spread through groups of dragons, making the community much more dangerous. The research team at the University of Texas believes that bacteria are spread among lizards by prey that has not been killed.
Studies revealed that an average of 58 strains of bacteria was found in Komodo dragon saliva, with 93 percent of those classed as ‘pathogenic’. One species, Pastuerella multocida, killed mice when injected via dragon saliva.
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