gray wolf vs Komodo Dragon

Canis lupus compared with Varanus komodoensis

Key Differences

  • gray wolf is Critically Endangered while Komodo Dragon is Endangered.
  • Komodo Dragon is 1.6x heavier than gray wolf.
  • Komodo Dragon lives longer (30 years vs 13 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank gray wolf Komodo Dragon
Kingdom same Animalia (Animals) Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same Chordata (cordados) Chordata (cordados)
Class Mammalia (mamíferos) Reptilia (réptil)
Order Carnivora (carnívoros) Squamata (Escamados)
Family Canidae (Dogs & Wolves) Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)
Genus Canis (Dogs & Wolves) Varanus (Monitor Lizards)
Species Canis lupus Varanus komodoensis

Evolutionary Relationship

gray wolf and Komodo Dragon share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (cordados)

Conservation Status

gray wolf

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Stable →

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute gray wolf Komodo Dragon
Diet Carnivore Carnivore
Average Lifespan 13 years 30 years
Average Length 1.6 m 2.6 m
Average Weight 45.0 kg 70.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

gray wolf

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, deserts and xeric shrublands, and tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, among 13 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Seychelles), Asia (Japan), Europe (5 countries), North America (7 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (Marshall Islands, Vanuatu), and South America (5 countries). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its 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.

gray wolf

O lobo-cinzento (Canis lupus), o canídeo selvagem mais amplamente distribuído, ocorre da América do Norte à Eurásia em habitats diversos, incluindo tundra, florestas e pradarias. São animais altamente sociais que vivem em matilhas familiares lideradas por um casal reprodutor dominante. Como predadores-chave, os lobos regulam as populações de presas e moldam profundamente a estrutura do ecossistema, como demonstrou sua reintrodução em Yellowstone. Antes muito perseguidos, as populações estão se recuperando em muitas regiões.

Komodo Dragon

O dragão-de-komodo é o maior lagarto vivo. É encontrado apenas em algumas ilhas indonésias.

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