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Komodo dragons have iron-coated teeth, scientists find | Reptiles | The Guardian (amp.theguardian.com)

submitted 3 months ago by Mothra@mander.xyz to c/science@mander.xyz

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Pretty interesting find. (Not completely sure if this is the right community for this- let me know if you know where else it would be a good fit!)

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[–] Mothra@mander.xyz 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I didn't know that either about beavers. Or chitons. But I already knew about mollusks doing crazy things with iron, like that armor plated snail.

I'm surprised Komodo dragons need their teeth to last, reptiles afaik replace their teeth indefinitely

[–] Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

I just looked it up and apparently the iron is just to enhance the cutting surface. They do have teeth that replaced themselves indefinitely as well.

With beavers, the enamel is iron enhanced so it's stronger than the dentine behind. They wear unevenly, the back wearing down more easily than the front, which keeps the teeth sharp. They're incisors continue to grow indefinitely, but they don't get replacements if they lose one.