Blue Cycad vs Komodo Dragon

Encephalartos nubimontanus compared with Varanus komodoensis

Key Differences

Blue Cycad is Extinct in the Wild while Komodo Dragon is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Blue Cycad	Komodo Dragon
Kingdom	Plantae (planta)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Tracheophyta	Chordata (cordados)
Class	Cycadopsida (Cycadatae)	Reptilia (reptil)
Order	Cycadales (Cycadidae)	Squamata (Lizards & Snakes)
Family	Zamiaceae	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)
Genus	Encephalartos	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)
Species	Encephalartos nubimontanus	Varanus komodoensis

Conservation Status

Blue Cycad

EW — Extinct in the Wild

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Blue Cycad

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.

Blue Cycad

The Blue Cycad (Encephalartos nubimontanus) is a species in the genus Encephalartos. It is currently classified as Extinct in the Wild on the IUCN Red List. As a member of the genus Encephalartos, it shares ecological traits with closely related species.