Komodo Dragon vs Sand-dune Widow

Varanus komodoensis compared with Tarsocera cassina

Key Differences

• Komodo Dragon is Endangered while Sand-dune Widow is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Komodo Dragon	Sand-dune Widow
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)	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)	Tarsocera
Species	Varanus komodoensis	Tarsocera cassina

Evolutionary Relationship

Komodo Dragon and Sand-dune Widow share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

Sand-dune Widow

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Komodo Dragon	Sand-dune Widow
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.

Sand-dune Widow

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Komodo Dragon

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