Scientific Inquiry Process Finds That Komodo Dragons Don’t have a Toxic Bite After All

Posted on July 7, 2013  Comments (1)

This articles is another showing the scientific inquiry process at work. Scientists draw conclusions based on the data they have and experiments they do. Then scientists (sometimes the same people that did the original work) seek to confirm or refute the initial conclusions (based on new evidence or just repeating a similar experiment) and may seek to extend those conclusions.

Sometimes the scientists conclude the initial understanding was incorrect, such as with Komodo Dragon’s: Here Be Dragons: The Mythic Bite of the Komodo

for centuries Komodos have been feared by many, with tales of their deadly bite echoing through local cultures. It’s even thought the monstrous lizards may have inspired the mythical beasts that share their name. Their villainous reputation only grew when these fearsome predators were discovered by Europeans in the early twentieth century. But of all the terrible tales told about these dragons, none has been so persistent and pervasive than that of their bite. The mouths of Komodos are said to be laden with deadly bacteria from the decaying corpses they feed on, microbes so disgustingly virulent that the smallest bite lethally infects prey. As the story goes, Komodos have turned oral bacteria into a venom.

It’s a truly fascinating way for an animal to feed — well, truly fascinating in that it’s not true at all.

Related: Video of Young Richard Feynman Talking About Scientific ThinkingNanoparticles With Scorpion Venom Slow Cancer SpreadBig Lizards in Johor BahruNigersaurus

One Response to “Scientific Inquiry Process Finds That Komodo Dragons Don’t have a Toxic Bite After All”

  1. Rey
    August 5th, 2013 @ 5:23 am

    Hi John, it was really a shock for me to learn that Komodo dragons are not the dangerous and lethal creatures they are portrayed on the silver screen. Seems like the poor creatures have been defamed for no rational reason. Thanks for sharing the post.

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