Komodo Dragon vs marsh pennywort

Varanus komodoensis compared with Hydrocotyle vulgaris

Key Differences

Komodo Dragon is Endangered while marsh pennywort is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Komodo Dragon	marsh pennywort
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Reptilia (Reptiles)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Squamata (Lizards & Snakes)	Apiales (Apiales)
Family	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)	Araliaceae
Genus	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)	Hydrocotyle
Species	Varanus komodoensis	Hydrocotyle vulgaris

Conservation Status

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

marsh pennywort

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Komodo Dragon	marsh pennywort
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	30 years	—
Average Length	2.6 m	—
Average Weight	70.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic 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.

marsh pennywort

Habitat

Inhabits temperate grasslands and steppes and deserts and xeric shrublands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found across Asia (Georgia, Japan, Taiwan) and Europe (6 countries). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.