fork-leaf cycas vs Komodo Dragon

Cycas micholitzii compared with Varanus komodoensis

Key Differences

fork-leaf cycas is Vulnerable while Komodo Dragon is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	fork-leaf cycas	Komodo Dragon
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Tracheophyta	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Cycadopsida (Cycadopsida)	Reptilia (Reptiles)
Order	Cycadales (Cycadales)	Squamata (Lizards & Snakes)
Family	Cycadaceae	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)
Genus	Cycas	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)
Species	Cycas micholitzii	Varanus komodoensis

Conservation Status

fork-leaf cycas

VU — Vulnerable

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	fork-leaf cycas	Komodo Dragon
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	30 years
Average Length	—	2.6 m
Average Weight	—	70.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

fork-leaf cycas

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.