Komodo Dragon vs

Varanus komodoensis compared with Peniophorella echinocystis

Key Differences

• Komodo Dragon is Endangered while is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Komodo Dragon
Kingdom	Animalia (Tier)	Fungi (Pilze)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Basidiomycota (Ständerpilze)
Class	Reptilia (Reptilien)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Squamata (Schuppenkriechtiere)	Hymenochaetales (Borstenscheiblingsartige)
Family	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)	Rickenellaceae
Genus	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)	Peniophorella
Species	Varanus komodoensis	Peniophorella echinocystis

Conservation Status

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

CR — Critically Endangered

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.

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

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

Komodo Dragon

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

Peniophorella echinocystis is a corticioid fungus assessed as Critically Endangered (CR), reflecting extreme rarity and highly restricted occurrence. It grows as a thin resupinate crust on dead wood in mature or ancient forest habitats. Its critically endangered status highlights the urgent conservation need for old-growth forest with standing and fallen deadwood.