In Indonesia, the live "dragons" and under their skin there is a layer of armor

Date:

2019-09-13 19:40:10

Views:

3028

Rating:

1Like 0Dislike

Share:

In Indonesia, the live Source:

Komodo dragons are protected better than previously thought.

Many fairy tale creatures have real prototypes, for example, there are lizards, which are very similar to dragons. No, they can't spew fire from its mouth, but have frightening forked tongue, strong muscles, a natural bloodlust and famous people These "dragons" are the Komodo dragon, which lives on some Indonesian Islands, and often attack people, for which he was nicknamed by local residents in honor of the fabulous beasts. Sounds really scary and cool, but these beings has recently surprised scientists another feature under their skin, was found a thick layer of armor designed to protect from heavy blows.

For the First time about the presence of the protective layer of the skin in lizards became known in 1928. Then a naturalist named William Douglas Bearden in his notes mentioned that poachers have started to catch giant lizards for the purpose of selling their skin, however, it had no value. The fact that beneath it is a layer of many small bones that can protect the body of monitor lizards from heavy blows and bites and complicates the cutting of the skin. Since natural armor lizards and practically not interested in scientists, but recently, researchers from the U.S. state of Texas decided to study it.

Most large lizards are protected by a thick layer of armor

The Skin of giant lizards quite difficult to get, so the scientists asked for help from local zoos. The body of the deceased in 2013, 19-year-old varane has been provided by the zoo, located in the Texas city of Fort worth. The owners of the zoo of San Antonio gave scientists the body of a baby lizard that died only a few days ago before the study began.

imaging of the head Komodo dragon

Having at its disposal a body of "dragons", a team of scientists examined them with a tomographic apparatus. Adult lizard was so huge that the device got only his head, but it was enough to reveal interesting features of the structure of his body. Under his skin, the researchers did find the layer of the plurality of solid bone that can protect it from the head to the tip of the tail.

protected Like crocodiles and other reptiles?

These tiny bones in scientific language known as osteoderm or secondary dermal ossification. They were in many extinct reptiles, . Today they are especially well developed in crocodiles and play an important role in defense and in the regulation of heat inside the body. But what is the protective layer of the skin need the lizards, because these fearsome predators may not be enemies — they are able to catch and to tear to shreds any predator.

Scientists believe that the armor needed to protect the lizards from their relatives. Examining the skin of a young monitor lizard the researchers noticed that he has subdermal armor is completely absent. From this it follows that it develops only in adulthood, when the giant lizards begin to quarrel with each other for territory. Honestly, sounds pretty boring — would be better if armor was meant to protect from the fabulous knights who came to rescue the Princess from captivity in the "dragon" tower.

Jokes aside, lizards are truly amazing creatures. In addition to its strength, bloodlust and security, they are an interesting composition of their blood. The study of 2017 have proven that it contains substances that can be used to create a new type of antibiotics. To read more about this .

Recommended

Can genes create the perfect diet for you?

Can genes create the perfect diet for you?

Diet on genotype can be a way out for many, but it still has a lot of questions Don't know what to do to lose weight? DNA tests promise to help you with this. They will be able to develop the most individual diet, because for this they will use the m...

How many extraterrestrial civilizations can exist nearby?

How many extraterrestrial civilizations can exist nearby?

If aliens exist, why don't we "hear" them? In the 12th episode of Cosmos, which aired on December 14, 1980, co-author and host Carl Sagan introduced viewers to the same equation of astronomer Frank Drake. Using it, he calculated the potential number ...

Why does the most poisonous plant in the world cause severe pain?

Why does the most poisonous plant in the world cause severe pain?

The pain caused to humans by the Gimpi-gympie plant can drive him crazy Many people consider Australia a very dangerous place full of poisonous creatures. And this is a perfectly correct idea, because this continent literally wants to kill everyone w...

Comments (0)

This article has no comment, be the first!

Add comment

Related News

Looked like a kangaroo living in Australia thousands of years ago?

Looked like a kangaroo living in Australia thousands of years ago?

modern kangaroo was a giant ancestors Remember, the article we wrote about that all existing animals are the smaller copies of the prehistoric giants. Kangaroos that inhabit modern Australia, are no exception and they too have anc...

Editor CRISPR genome was first used for the treatment of HIV

Editor CRISPR genome was first used for the treatment of HIV

the Editor of the genome — it is a powerful tool that can help us defeat the incurable disease. Editor of CRISPR genome is increasingly used in medicine to treat patients. We regularly soobshaet on our portal. So if you don'...

Who found the link between sugary drinks and premature death

Who found the link between sugary drinks and premature death

Diet drinks more dangerous than we think it is considered that irreparable harm carry alcoholic beverages. But if it comes to the different kinds of sodas and other sweet drinks as a rule doctors say about the development of obesi...

How emotion affects political views?

How emotion affects political views?

Empathy and political views are related, scientists have found We are able to recognize emotions, motivation and intentions of other people. And their desires and the desires of others. This ability to manage emotions in order the...

What foods are bad for the brain?

What foods are bad for the brain?

If you have Breakfast every day, nothing good is not over About the benefits of proper nutrition know it all. However, not everyone knows that some foods are bad . A study published in the journal Nature, released a list of produc...

Water temperatures in the Pacific ocean is growing — and this is very bad

Water temperatures in the Pacific ocean is growing — and this is very bad

Even a slight increase in water temperature can turn into an environmental disaster. Not long ago, scientists involved in environmental issues, found in the Pacific ocean off the coast of North America area, which is five degrees ...

The largest dinosaur on Earth could fly

The largest dinosaur on Earth could fly

the Wingspan of a pterosaur-giant could reach ten meters. Cryodrakon boreas — a giant pterosaur from the group azhdarchids dinosaur presented himself with a ten foot wingspan. Pterosaur lived during the Cretaceous period, an...

Engineers have found a way to make a Tesla twice as good

Engineers have found a way to make a Tesla twice as good

Beautiful car, beautiful landscape… What more do you need? you can Often come across a situation where the strong side of any cool inventions is also its weakness. Such example can be the heart of a Tesla. No one disputes th...

Instead of a monster in Loch ness could inhabit giant eel

Instead of a monster in Loch ness could inhabit giant eel

the Artists had portrayed the Loch Ness monster do Not really want to disappoint those who believe in the reality of Nessie (so often called a monster, supposedly living in Loch ness in Scotland), but of all the existing versions ...

The developed model is able to predict forest fires for 20 minutes before catching fire.

The developed model is able to predict forest fires for 20 minutes before catching fire.

Forest fires — uncontrollable force, the appearance of which can be predicted Humanity has pretty well learned to deal with small fires, and even very successfully mastered various methods of dealing with fire. Extinguishing...

What a human body?

What a human body?

looks like an x-ray of hand with six fingers. would you Like to have six fingers instead of five? In an exciting , recently published in the journal Nature Communications, the researchers decided to study the ability of people wit...

Why do moths fly to the light?

Why do moths fly to the light?

Despite the fact that some butterflies prefer to be active only at night, any light source opens the way for unusual activity. Perhaps you may have noticed that summer night a large number of moths and all kinds tend to be closer ...

How the Moon affects humans?

How the Moon affects humans?

a full Moon in the forest has been a source of inspiration and object of worship since time immemorial. The Greek philosopher Anaxagoras gave one of the first scientific explanation of the nature of the moon. Thus, he confirmed t...

How were prehistoric animals?

How were prehistoric animals?

So looked found fossil. whatever you are doing, remember that this contributed to billions of years . All because to turn one complex organism into another flick of the wrist will not work. Nevertheless, complex organisms exist. F...

Why in America they build houses out of cardboard?

Why in America they build houses out of cardboard?

In Russia to break through the wall with one hand without injury just will not work. I Think each of us at least once in your life seen as a hero of some Hollywood blockbuster with ease of one hand or foot breaks through a thin wa...

Some parasites live in the carpet?

Some parasites live in the carpet?

If you suddenly became lonely, remember: the saprophytes always there did you Know that right now beneath your feet it may be a creature whose appearance could inspire Stephen king to write a new masterpiece of horror. Despite the...

When people started drinking cow milk?

When people started drinking cow milk?

Can cow's milk be harmful and not useful product for human health? You never thought that drinking cow's milk in food — a somewhat unusual phenomenon in nature? In some modern countries cow's milk is still considered rare an...

Where do fruit flies in the house?

Where do fruit flies in the house?

Fruit flies or Drosophila accompanied humans for thousands of years Each of us knows firsthand that if you leave for the night on the table a few and forgetting to put them in the fridge, then they will come — terrible fruit...

How dangerous is house dust?

How dangerous is house dust?

it looks like household dust under a microscope Given the modern pace of life, to have time to do everything planned for the day things are not so easy. Work, school, and friends take time. As the household. Sometimes instead of c...

Ancient civilizations harm nature

Ancient civilizations harm nature

damage caused to the environment for many thousands of years. We are naive to believe that harmful human activity originates only with the development of the media industry in the twentieth century. According to a new study condu...