huttriverofnz

Keeping within my broad definition of health and safety here, lets look at dragons: Not Puff the Magic dragon, or the fire -spewing kind, but the komodo dragon, which is not only the largest living lizard, but also one of the most venomous creatures on the face of the earth, scientists have discovered.

This carnivorous reptile, which reportedly rips its prey apart, kills with venom rather than bacteria laden bites, as scientists have always believed.

The komodo which grow to a length of about three metres and weigh about 6o kilograms, are actually vicious predators that prey on animals as large as deer. They attack their victims by biting and tearing at it repeatedly. Then as they have made their mark, they wait patiently as it dies a lingering death.

Scientists previously thought that because komodos also fed on carrion, their bacteria-laden mouths may infect their victims. But magnetic resonance imaging has shown they have glands that produce venom like that of many species of snakes.

Their sharp serated teeth open up the wounds into which the venom flows from the gland that runs along the jawline. This venom acts as an anticoagulant, increasing the bloodflow and reducing blood pressure, sending the victim into shock. Because  the victims blood cannot clot, it bleeds to death.

The venom makes the animals formidable killers even though their bite is actually much weaker than a crocodile.

“The teeth and the venom work in perfect harmony,” said Bryan Fry, head of the international team whose research on the lizard’s killing powers is published  in the US journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“It works as well as a poisoned dagger,” the venom expert from Melbourne  University said.”It is an amazing killing machine.”

I had always believed their looks were far worse than their bite!

Acknowledgements:  The Times