Komodo Dragon vs Plain Smudge

Varanus komodoensis compared with Ypsolopha lucella

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Komodo Dragon	Plain Smudge
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Reptilia (Reptiles)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Squamata (Lizards & Snakes)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)	Ypsolophidae
Genus	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)	Ypsolopha
Species	Varanus komodoensis	Ypsolopha lucella

Evolutionary Relationship

Komodo Dragon and Plain Smudge share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

Plain Smudge

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Komodo Dragon	Plain Smudge
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.

Plain Smudge

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. 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.