Venomous Lizard Kings

There has long been a debate on the  Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) currently the largest living monitor lizard and its methods of bringing down large prey such as wild boar and even buffalo. It has been wildly excepted for many years that the nasty bacteria lurking the the jaws of the Komodo has been the secret to its hunting success.
   Komodo Dragons hunting has been widely documented in the wild and has shown that prey which has endured the gruesome bite from the giant lizard usually die from rapid shock and extreme blood loss. There is a very long painful death process for the prey species which may take up to several hours or even over a day for larger animals The deep wounds of a large animal may also become infected during this time. It would seem a logical thought that the source of the infection came from the mouth of the Komodo Dragon due it their lack of dental hygiene and constant drooling. However it seems this theory lacks vital evidence and does not factor in all of the surrounding variables.
  As i mentioned in my last post there is evidence to suggest the complex venom systems found in snakes originated from ancient lizards such as Iguanas and Varanids. Looking back over evolutionary history of V.komodoensis, is it possible that this species is using venom as a technique to bring down large prey? Fossil evidence suggest that these large monitors are the descendants of something even larger. Megalania (Varanus prisca) is the largest monitor in the fossil record and it lived right here in Australia. Close examination of the teeth of V.prisca shows a groove which runs from the base of the tooth to the tip.This groove indicates a primitive venom delivery system commonly seen in other lizard species. From this evidence it is entirely possible that V.komodoensis has inherited the venomous bite from Megalania. This groove however is not present in the  komodoensis tooth which may why this theory has been overlooked in the past.

Image from B.G.Fry et al. 2009 Comparing the V.komodoensis tooth to that of V.prisca.

A central role for venom in predation by Varanus komodoensis (Komodo Dragon) and the extinct giant Varanus (Megalania) 

A central role for venom in predation by Varanus komodoensis (Komodo Dragon) and the extinct giant Varanus (Megalania) 

  There is evidence to suggest that the amount of blood loss which follows a bite is not only because of the deep lacerations but also due to an anticoagulant property found in the venom of not just the Komodo dragon but most Varanidae species. This venom was extracted from the glands found in the bottom jaw which also compelling evidence that there is a much more sophisticated mechanism at work.
  This evidence answers my question from my last post. It seems that lizards have indeed evolved complex venom systems not only for defence but also for prey capture. with these recent discoveries there is no doubt that more reptilian species will be put under the microscope and there ancient secrets revealed.

   Photograph by Theo Allofs/Corbis

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/24/man-mauled-death-komodo-dragon

11.15am  18/03/13

Ref:
B.G.Fry et al 2009 "A central role for venom in predation for Varanus komodoensis (komodo dragon) and the extinct giant Varanus (megalania) priscus", PNAS, vol.106, pp.8969-8974.