Komodo dragons have iron-coated teeth, scientists find

Komodo dragons are the largest living reptile, growing to more than three metres in length and weighing 80kg on average. Photograph: Charlotte Ellis, Zoological Society of London

With their huge size, venomous bite and the fantastical connotations of their name, Komodo dragons seem like the stuff of legend.

Now, that status has been elevated further: scientists have discovered that their teeth are coated with a layer of iron that helps keep their serrated edges razor sharp.