Komodo Dragon vs

Varanus komodoensis compared with Nitrosotalea

Key Differences

• Komodo Dragon is Endangered while is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Komodo Dragon
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Archaea (Archaea)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Thermoproteota (Thermoproteota)
Class	Reptilia (Reptiles)	Nitrososphaeria (Nitrososphaeria)
Order	Squamata (Lizards & Snakes)	Nitrososphaerales (Nitrososphaerales)
Family	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)	Nitrosopumilaceae
Genus	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)	Nitrosotalea
Species	Varanus komodoensis	Nitrosotalea

Conservation Status

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Komodo Dragon
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.

Komodo Dragon

The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard. It is found only on a few Indonesian islands.

Nitrosotalea is a genus of ammonia-oxidizing archaea in the phylum Thaumarchaeota, distinguished by their ability to perform nitrification under acidic conditions where most other nitrifying microorganisms cannot survive. Species within this genus have been detected in acidic soils worldwide, suggesting a significant but underappreciated role in nitrogen cycling in low-pH habitats. The genus was established following the cultivation of the type species from agricultural soil.