Komodo Dragon vs Leao

Varanus komodoensis compared with Panthera leo

Key Differences

• Komodo Dragon is Endangered while Leao is Vulnerable.
• Leao is 2.7x heavier than Komodo Dragon.
• Komodo Dragon lives longer (30 years vs 15 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Komodo Dragon	Leao
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (cordados)	Chordata (cordados)
Class	Reptilia (réptil)	Mammalia (mamíferos)
Order	Squamata (Escamados)	Carnivora (carnívoros)
Family	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)	Felidae (Cats)
Genus	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)	Panthera (Big Cats)
Species	Varanus komodoensis	Panthera leo

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

Leao

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~23.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Komodo Dragon	Leao
Diet	Carnivore	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	30 years	15 years
Average Length	2.6 m	2.5 m
Average Weight	70.0 kg	190.0 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.

Leao

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 7 distinct biome types spanning the Afrotropic and Neotropic and Oceanian realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, and Kenya. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Komodo Dragon

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

Leao

O maior felino selvagem da África, o leão pode atingir até 250 kg e é o único felídeo social, vivendo em grupos nas savanas e pastagens da África Subsaariana. Os machos se distinguem por suas icônicas juba. Como predadores de topo, regulam as populações de herbívoros e mantêm o equilíbrio do ecossistema. Classificado como Vulnerável devido à perda de habitat e ao conflito entre humanos e vida selvagem.