Facts about Komodo Dragon Salivary Toxicity
- 05
Komodo dragon venom contains proteins that cause prolonged hypotension, making prey weak and unable to flee even after escaping an initial bite.
- 04
Bryan Fry led the team whose anatomical and chemical analyses confirmed that Komodo dragon venom acts by preventing blood from clotting in bitten prey.
- 03
Prior to the 2009 venom discovery, the dominant scientific hypothesis attributed Komodo dragon lethality to over 50 strains of pathogenic bacteria living in their mouths.
- 02
The venom glands of Komodo dragons are located in the lower jaw and deliver toxins that induce rapid drops in blood pressure and prevent clotting in prey.
- 01
Research published in 2009 revealed that Komodo dragons possess venom glands that secrete anticoagulant compounds, disproving the long-held belief that bacteria in their saliva caused prey death.