Komodo Dragon vs Small-leaf climbing fern

Varanus komodoensis compared with Lygodium microphyllum

Key Differences

Komodo Dragon is Endangered while Small-leaf climbing fern is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Komodo Dragon	Small-leaf climbing fern
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (planta)
Phylum	Chordata (cordados)	Tracheophyta
Class	Reptilia (reptil)	Polypodiopsida (Polypodiopsida)
Order	Squamata (Lizards & Snakes)	Schizaeales (Schizaeales)
Family	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)	Lygodiaceae
Genus	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)	Lygodium
Species	Varanus komodoensis	Lygodium microphyllum

Conservation Status

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

Small-leaf climbing fern

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Komodo Dragon	Small-leaf climbing fern
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.

Small-leaf climbing fern

Habitat

Typically found in moist, shaded forest floors and tropical canopies.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Angola, Guinea), Asia (Taiwan), North America (United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Micronesia, Palau, Solomon Islands), and South America (Guyana).