A central role for venom in predation by Varanus komodoensis (Komodo Dragon) and the extinct giant Varanus (Megalania) priscus
- aVenomics Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,
- bBio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute,
- lHoward Florey Institute, and
- sDepartment of Oral Medicine and Surgery, School of Dental Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia;
- cComputational Biomechanics Research Group and Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia;
- Departments of dRadiology and
- jAnatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300, Leiden, The Netherlands;
- eLaboratorio de Paleontología, Instituto de Geociencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla #567, Valdivia, Chile;
- fSchool of Engineering, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia;
- gScientific and Business Computing Lab AG, Seebüelstrasse 26, 8185 Winkel, Switzerland;
- hMonash Venom Group, Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia;
- iUnit of Ecology and Systematics, Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium;
- kDepartment of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom;
- mVeterinary Department, Singapore Zoological Gardens, 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore;
- nVeterinary Department, Ocean Park, Aberdeen, Hong Kong;
- oSociety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Hong Kong;
- pDepartment of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel;
- qSchool of Pharmacy, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 7BL, United Kingdom;
- rR. M. Alden Research Laboratory, Santa Monica, CA 90404; and
- tSciences Department, Museum Victoria, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
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Edited by David B. Wake, University of California, Berkeley, CA, and approved April 16, 2009 (received for review October 28, 2008)

Abstract
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.
Footnotes
- 1To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: bgf{at}unimelb.edu.au
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Author contributions: B.G.F., S.W., and W.C.H. designed research; B.G.F., S.W., W.T., M.J.P.v.O., K.M., J.I., C.M., T.F., P.C., H.S., K.L.W., L.G., K.R., L.v.d.W., C.J.C., E.G., W.C.H., S.L., P.M., K.K., E.K., H.F.K., D.S., J.K., J.E.M., and J.A.N. performed research; B.G.F., S.W., W.T., M.J.P.v.O., and H.S. contributed new reagents/analytic tools; B.G.F., S.W., W.T., M.J.P.v.O., K.M., J.I., C.M., T.F., P.C., H.S., K.L.W., L.G., K.R., L.v.d.W., C.J.C., E.G., W.C.H., S.L., P.M., K.K., E.K., H.F.K., D.M.C., E.J.C.G., J.E.M., and J.A.N. analyzed data; and B.G.F., S.W., W.T., M.J.P.v.O., D.M.C., E.J.C.G., and J.A.N. wrote the paper.
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↵2Present address: Fusion Antibodies Ltd., Belfast BT17 0QL, United Kingdom.
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The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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This article is a PNAS Direct Submission.
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This article contains supporting information online at www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/0810883106/DCSupplemental.
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