Komodo Dragon vs meadow thistle

Varanus komodoensis compared with Cirsium dissectum

Key Differences

Komodo Dragon is Endangered while meadow thistle is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Komodo Dragon	meadow thistle
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Reptilia (Reptiles)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Squamata (Lizards & Snakes)	Asterales (Daisies & Sunflowers)
Family	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)	Asteraceae (Daisy Family)
Genus	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)	Cirsium
Species	Varanus komodoensis	Cirsium dissectum

Conservation Status

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

meadow thistle

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Komodo Dragon	meadow thistle
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.

meadow thistle

Habitat

Inhabits temperate broadleaf and mixed forests within the Palearctic biogeographic realm.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Norway, and Sweden. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.