Komodo Dragon vs Tana River Poplar

Varanus komodoensis compared with Populus ilicifolia

Key Differences

Komodo Dragon is Endangered while Tana River Poplar is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Komodo Dragon	Tana River Poplar
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Reptilia (Reptiles)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Squamata (Lizards & Snakes)	Malpighiales (Malpighiales)
Family	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)	Salicaceae
Genus	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)	Populus
Species	Varanus komodoensis	Populus ilicifolia

Conservation Status

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

Tana River Poplar

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Komodo Dragon	Tana River Poplar
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.

Tana River Poplar

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 5 distinct biome types within the Afrotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Kenya. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.