TY - JOUR
T1 - A central role for venom in predation by Varanus komodoensis (Komodo Dragon) and the extinct giant Varanus ( Megalania) priscus
AU - Fry, Bryan G
AU - Wroe, Stephen
AU - Teeuwisse, Wouter
AU - van Osch, Matthias J P
AU - Moreno, Karen
AU - Ingle, Jeanette
AU - McHenry, Colin
AU - Ferrara, Toni
AU - Clausen, Phillip
AU - Scheib, Holger
AU - Winter, Kelly Lee
AU - Greisman, Laura
AU - Roelants, Kim
AU - van der Weerd, Louise
AU - Clemente, Christofer J
AU - Giannakis, Eleni
AU - Hodgson, Wayne Clarence
AU - Luz, Sonja
AU - Martelli, Paolo
AU - Krishnasamy, Karthiyani
AU - Kochva, Elazar
AU - Kwok, Hang Fai
AU - Scanlon, Denis
AU - Karas, John
AU - Citron, Diane M
AU - Goldstein, Ellie J C
AU - Mcnaughtan, Judith E
AU - Norman, Janette A
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - The predatory ecology of Varanus komodoensis (Komodo Dragon) has been a subject of long-standing interest and considerable conjecture. Here, we investigate the roles and potential interplay between cranial mechanics, toxic bacteria, and venom. Our analyses point to the presence of a sophisticated combined-arsenal killing apparatus. We find that the lightweight skull is relatively poorly adapted to generate high bite forces but better adapted to resist high pulling loads. We reject the popular notion regarding toxic bacteria utilization. Instead, we demonstrate that the effects of deep wounds inflicted are potentiated through venom with toxic activities including anticoagulation and shock induction. Anatomical comparisons of V. komodoensis with V. (Megalania) priscus fossils suggest that the closely related extinct giant was the largest venomous animal to have ever lived.
AB - The predatory ecology of Varanus komodoensis (Komodo Dragon) has been a subject of long-standing interest and considerable conjecture. Here, we investigate the roles and potential interplay between cranial mechanics, toxic bacteria, and venom. Our analyses point to the presence of a sophisticated combined-arsenal killing apparatus. We find that the lightweight skull is relatively poorly adapted to generate high bite forces but better adapted to resist high pulling loads. We reject the popular notion regarding toxic bacteria utilization. Instead, we demonstrate that the effects of deep wounds inflicted are potentiated through venom with toxic activities including anticoagulation and shock induction. Anatomical comparisons of V. komodoensis with V. (Megalania) priscus fossils suggest that the closely related extinct giant was the largest venomous animal to have ever lived.
UR - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=19451641
U2 - 10.1073/pnas.0810883106
DO - 10.1073/pnas.0810883106
M3 - Article
SN - 0027-8424
VL - 106
SP - 8969
EP - 8974
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
IS - 22
ER -