Balkan Yam vs Komodo Dragon

Dioscorea balcanica compared with Varanus komodoensis

Key Differences

Balkan Yam is Near Threatened while Komodo Dragon is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Balkan Yam	Komodo Dragon
Kingdom	Plantae (Pflanzen)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class	Liliopsida (Monocots)	Reptilia (Reptilien)
Order	Dioscoreales (Yamswurzelartige)	Squamata (Schuppenkriechtiere)
Family	Dioscoreaceae	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)
Genus	Dioscorea	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)
Species	Dioscorea balcanica	Varanus komodoensis

Conservation Status

Balkan Yam

NT — Near Threatened

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Balkan Yam	Komodo Dragon
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	30 years
Average Length	—	2.6 m
Average Weight	—	70.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Balkan Yam

Habitat

Typically found in grasslands, wetlands, forests, and cultivated landscapes.

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.

Balkan Yam

The Balkan Yam (Dioscorea balcanica) is a species in the genus Dioscorea. It is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in grasslands, wetlands, forests, and cultivated landscapes.