Japanese zelkova vs Komodo Dragon

Zelkova serrata compared with Varanus komodoensis

Key Differences

Japanese zelkova is Near Threatened while Komodo Dragon is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Japanese zelkova	Komodo Dragon
Kingdom	Plantae (planta)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Chordata (cordados)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Reptilia (reptil)
Order	Rosales (Roses & Allies)	Squamata (Lizards & Snakes)
Family	Ulmaceae	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)
Genus	Zelkova	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)
Species	Zelkova serrata	Varanus komodoensis

Conservation Status

Japanese zelkova

NT — Near Threatened

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Japanese zelkova

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (5 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Colombia). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

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.