Found on a handful of Indonesian islands, the Komodo Dragon is the world’s largest living lizard and one of its most formidable predators. Its teeth are shaped similarly to those of prehistoric theropod dinosaurs — serrated and blade-like — and are coated with an iron-rich mineral that gives them a distinctive orange color and incredible sharpness.

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For years it was believed that bacteria in its mouth were responsible for killing prey, but this has since been largely debunked — venom glands, powerful teeth, and the Komodo Dragon's strength all play a role in bringing down prey.

 

Remarkably, researchers have also found that proteins in Komodo Dragon blood show promising antibiotic properties, potentially making this ancient predator a future source of life-saving medicine!