Shock and awe behind Komodo's fatal bite

SYDNEY: The world's largest lizard, the Komodo dragon, has a snake-like venom in its bite which sends victims into shock, Australian research showed yesterday.

It had been widely believed that deadly bacteria in the carnivorous lizard's mouth helped kill its prey. But magnetic resonance imagery has for the first time uncovered venom glands containing a shock-inducing poison, which increases blood flow and decreases blood pressure, scientists say.

Lead researcher Bryan Fry said three-dimensional computer imaging comparing the Komodo's bite with that of a crocodile showed it used a "grip and rip" pulling maneuver to tear deep wounds, similar to a shark or sabre cat.