vs Komodo Dragon

Haloterrigena thermotolerans compared with Varanus komodoensis

Key Differences

is Not Evaluated while Komodo Dragon is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Komodo Dragon
Kingdom	Archaea (Archaea)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum	Halobacteriota (Halobacteriota)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class	Halobacteria (Halobacteria)	Reptilia (Reptilien)
Order	Halobacteriales (Halobacteriales)	Squamata (Schuppenkriechtiere)
Family	Natrialbaceae	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)
Genus	Haloterrigena	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)
Species	Haloterrigena thermotolerans	Varanus komodoensis

Conservation Status

NE — Not Evaluated

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute		Komodo Dragon
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.

Haloterrigena thermotolerans is an extremely halophilic and thermotolerant archaeon capable of growth at both high salt concentrations and elevated temperatures. It inhabits saline, warm terrestrial environments including salt crusts, saline springs, and thermally influenced hypersaline habitats. This aerobic chemoheterotroph is adapted to the dual stresses of high salinity and heat.