Komodo Dragon vs Shelled Slug

Varanus komodoensis compared with Testacella haliotidea

Key Differences

• Komodo Dragon is Endangered while Shelled Slug is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Komodo Dragon	Shelled Slug
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Mollusca (Mollusks)
Class	Reptilia (Reptiles)	Gastropoda (Gastropoda)
Order	Squamata (Lizards & Snakes)	Stylommatophora (Stylommatophora)
Family	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)	Testacellidae
Genus	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)	Testacella
Species	Varanus komodoensis	Testacella haliotidea

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

Shelled Slug

DD — Data Deficient

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Komodo Dragon	Shelled Slug
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.

Shelled Slug

Habitat

Typically found in terrestrial and aquatic habitats including forests and freshwater.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (9 countries), North America (United States), and Oceania and the Pacific (New Zealand).

Komodo Dragon

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