Asiatic elephant vs Komodo Dragon

Elephas maximus compared with Varanus komodoensis

Key Differences

Asiatic elephant is herbivore while Komodo Dragon is carnivore.
Asiatic elephant is 57.1x heavier than Komodo Dragon.
Asiatic elephant lives longer (60 years vs 30 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Asiatic elephant	Komodo Dragon
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Reptilia (Reptiles)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Squamata (Lizards & Snakes)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)
Genus	Elephas (Asian Elephants)	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)
Species	Elephas maximus	Varanus komodoensis

Evolutionary Relationship

Asiatic elephant and Komodo Dragon share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

View Phylum: Chordata

Conservation Status

Asiatic elephant

EN — Endangered

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Asiatic elephant	Komodo Dragon
Diet	Herbivore	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	60 years	30 years
Average Length	5.5 m	2.6 m
Average Weight	4.0 t	70.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Asiatic elephant

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 9 distinct biome types spanning the Australasia and Indomalayan and Palearctic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Komodo Dragon

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 4 distinct biome types spanning the Australasia and Indomalayan realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Indonesia. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Asiatic elephant

Smaller than its African cousin, Asiatic elephants range across South and Southeast Asian forests and grasslands from India to Indonesia. Distinguished by their smaller ears, rounded back, and a single finger-like projection on the trunk tip. Deeply interwoven with Asian cultures, they have been used in religious ceremonies and as working animals for millennia. Endangered, with fewer than 50,000 remaining in the wild.