Komodo dragon

[Homicidalheathen]

In 2009, the same researchers published further evidence demonstrating that Komodo dragons possess a venomous bite. MRI scans of a preserved skull showed the presence of two venom glands in the lower jaw. They extracted one of these glands from the head of a terminally ill specimen in the Singapore Zoological Gardens, and found that it secreted a venom containing several different toxic proteins. The known functions of these proteins include inhibition of blood clotting, lowering of blood pressure, muscle paralysis, and the induction of hypothermia, leading to shock and loss of consciousness in envenomated prey.[29][30] As a result of the discovery, the previous theory that bacteria were responsible for the deaths of komodo victims was disputed.[31]

It has been proposed that all venomous lizards, together with their nonvenomous relatives and all snakes, share a common venomous ancestor.[28]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_dragon

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/anim...odo-dragon.html

[jynxxxedangel]

I'm surprised it took so long, for scientists to figure this out..

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

I just saw this on.. It think it was Animal Planet. Apparently the glands are pretty small and no one has ever noticed them before. It has always been thought that the extremely toxic stew that is their saliva was the cause of the affects of their bites.

[StormKnight (1)]

Saw that poison gland story on the dragon a week or two ago.

That stew that is cooking in their mouths isn't exactly Listerine, there. The bacteria can't help its prey out too much. Still don't want to have one of those gnawing on my leg as a massage even without the poison.