Komodo Dragon vs thistle broomrape

Varanus komodoensis compared with Orobanche reticulata

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Komodo Dragon	thistle broomrape
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Reptilia (Reptiles)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Squamata (Lizards & Snakes)	Lamiales (Lamiales)
Family	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)	Orobanchaceae
Genus	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)	Orobanche
Species	Varanus komodoensis	Orobanche reticulata

Conservation Status

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

thistle broomrape

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Komodo Dragon	thistle broomrape
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.

thistle broomrape

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.