Komodo Dragon vs Ruddy Shelduck

Varanus komodoensis compared with Tadorna ferruginea

Key Differences

Komodo Dragon is Endangered while Ruddy Shelduck is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Komodo Dragon	Ruddy Shelduck
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Reptilia (Reptiles)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Squamata (Lizards & Snakes)	Anseriformes (Anseriformes)
Family	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)	Anatidae
Genus	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)	Tadorna
Species	Varanus komodoensis	Tadorna ferruginea

Evolutionary Relationship

Komodo Dragon and Ruddy Shelduck share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

View Phylum: Chordata

Conservation Status

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

Ruddy Shelduck

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Komodo Dragon	Ruddy Shelduck
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.

Ruddy Shelduck

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Israel, Taiwan), Europe (19 countries), and North America (United States).

Komodo Dragon

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

Ruddy Shelduck

Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) is classified as Not Evaluated (NE) on the IUCN Red List. Not yet evaluated against IUCN Red List criteria. Conservation status remains to be determined.