Macroanatomical, Histological and Microtomographic Study of the Teeth of the Komodo Dragon (<i>Varanus komodoensis</i>)—Adaptation to Hunting
Maciej Janeczek,
Karolina Goździewska-Harłajczuk,
Ludwika Hrabska,
Joanna Klećkowska-Nawrot,
Piotr Kuropka,
Maciej Dobrzyński,
Oleksii Melnyk,
Anna Nikodem
Affiliations
Maciej Janeczek
Department of Biostructure and Animal Physiology, Division of Animal Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Kozuchowska 1, 51-631 Wrocław, Poland
Karolina Goździewska-Harłajczuk
Department of Biostructure and Animal Physiology, Division of Animal Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Kozuchowska 1, 51-631 Wrocław, Poland
Ludwika Hrabska
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Kozuchowska 1, 51-631 Wrocław, Poland
Joanna Klećkowska-Nawrot
Department of Biostructure and Animal Physiology, Division of Animal Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Kozuchowska 1, 51-631 Wrocław, Poland
Piotr Kuropka
Department of Biostructure and Animal Physiology, Division of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 25, 50-635 Wrocław, Poland
Maciej Dobrzyński
Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Preclinical Dentistry, Wroclaw Medical University, Krakowska 26, 50-425 Wrocław, Poland
Oleksii Melnyk
Department of Animal Anatomy, Histology and Pathomorphology, National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Potekhin 16, 03041 Kyiv, Ukraine
Anna Nikodem
Department of Mechanics, Materials and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
The present study aimed to characterize the macrostructure and microstructure of the mandibular teeth of the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) and the methods it uses to obtain food. Examinations were performed using a stereoscopic microscope, autofluorescence method, histological method and computed microtomography. A detailed macro- and micro-structural description of V. komodoensis mandibular teeth were made. The mandibular teeth are laterally flattened along their entire length and the dental crown is hooked caudally. The part of the nasal margin of the tooth crown is irregular, while the caudal margin of the tooth is characteristically serrated, except for the tooth base area. There are longitudinal grooves on the lingual and vestibular surfaces up to the lower third of the tooth height. The mandibular tooth is surrounded by a cuff made of the oral mucosa, containing the opening of the venom gland. In the histological structure of the tooth, the enamel covering the tooth crown and the dentin under the enamel are distinguished. The inside of the tooth, except its basal part, is filled with the tooth chamber, while the inside of the lower part of the tooth is filled with plicidentine, which corresponds to external furrows on the enamel. The plicidentine arrangement resembles a honeycomb. A small amount of dentine folds reach up to the tooth apex. Characteristic features of the structure of the mandibular teeth in V. komodoensis may indicate their significant role, in addition to the venom glands, in obtaining food in the natural environment of this species.
