Komodo Dragon vs Saltwater Crocodile

Varanus komodoensis compared with Crocodylus porosus

Key Differences

Komodo Dragon is Endangered while Saltwater Crocodile is Least Concern.
Saltwater Crocodile is 14.3x heavier than Komodo Dragon.
Saltwater Crocodile lives longer (70 years vs 30 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Komodo Dragon	Saltwater Crocodile
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Reptilia (Reptiles)	Reptilia (Reptiles)
Order	Squamata (Lizards & Snakes)	Crocodylia (Crocodilians)
Family	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)	Crocodylidae (Crocodiles)
Genus	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)	Crocodylus (True Crocodiles)
Species	Varanus komodoensis	Crocodylus porosus

Evolutionary Relationship

Komodo Dragon and Saltwater Crocodile share a common ancestor at the Class level: Reptilia. (Reptiles)

View Class: Reptilia

Conservation Status

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

Saltwater Crocodile

LC — Least Concern

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Komodo Dragon	Saltwater Crocodile
Diet	Carnivore	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	30 years	70 years
Average Length	2.6 m	6.0 m
Average Weight	70.0 kg	1.0 t

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.