Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) are the world's largest lizards, known for killing prey that exceed their body mass. Reports of bites to humans in the popular press suggest high degrees of morbidity and mortality. Reports in the medical literature are lacking. We describe the case of a zookeeper who was bitten by a Komodo dragon, with a resultant mallet finger. We further discuss the various potential mechanisms of Komodo dragon lethality, including sepsis and venom deposition theories that are useful in guiding management.
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The Musculoskeletal Anatomy of the Komodo Dragon's Hindlimb (, Varanidae).
Animals (Basel)
December 2024
Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Preclinical Dentistry, Wroclaw Medical University, Krakowska 26, 50-425 Wrocław, Poland.
The Komodo dragon () is the largest extant lizard and is classified as an endangered species. Despite its rarity, anatomical studies on this species remain limited, hindering a comprehensive understanding of its biology and evolutionary traits. This research presents a detailed anatomical and histological examination of the pelvic limb of a female Komodo dragon, providing valuable insights into the musculoskeletal system of this species.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHistological Study of Skin Structures From Selected Body Areas in the Varanus komodoensis.
J Morphol
January 2025
Department of Biostructure and Animal Physiology, Division of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland.
The skin of the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is covered by a form of armour formed mainly of scales, which often co-occur with osteoderms. Scales are keratinized, non-mineralized structures in the uppermost layer of the epidermis that are in contact with each other to form a system in which individual scales are isolated from each other by a softer skin fold zone. In the Varanus, the surface of the scales is flat and smooth (thoracic limb, abdomen, and tail areas), domed and smooth (head area) or domed with conical ornamentation (dorsal surface, pelvic limb-dorsal surface areas).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiological Significance of the Komodo Dragon's Tail (, Varanidae).
Animals (Basel)
July 2024
Department of Biostructure and Animal Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Kożuchowska St. 1, 51-631 Wrocław, Poland.
The Komodo dragon is a unique reptile with an elongated tail that exhibits hitherto unknown adaptations and functions. This tail, composed of 60-86 vertebrae, serves diverse ecological and physiological roles. In juveniles, it is essential for an arboreal lifestyle and balance, while in adults, it functions as a tool for defense and offensive actions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIron-coated Komodo dragon teeth and the complex dental enamel of carnivorous reptiles.
Nat Ecol Evol
September 2024
Centre for Oral, Clinical & Translational Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) are the largest extant predatory lizards and their ziphodont (serrated, curved and blade-shaped) teeth make them valuable analogues for studying tooth structure, function and comparing with extinct ziphodont taxa, such as theropod dinosaurs. Like other ziphodont reptiles, V. komodoensis teeth possess only a thin coating of enamel that is nevertheless able to cope with the demands of their puncture-pull feeding.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExceptionally rapid tooth development and ontogenetic changes in the feeding apparatus of the Komodo dragon.
PLoS One
February 2024
International Center of Future Science, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
Dental developmental and replacement patterns in extinct amniotes have attracted a lot of attention. Notable among these are Paleozoic predatory synapsids, but also Mesozoic theropod dinosaurs, well known for having true ziphodonty, strongly serrated carinae with dentine cores within an enamel cap. The Komodo dragon, Varanus komodoensis, is the only extant terrestrial vertebrate to exhibit true ziphodonty, making it an ideal model organism for gaining new insights into the life history and feeding behaviours of theropod dinosaurs and early synapsids.
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