African elephant vs Komodo Dragon

Loxodonta africana compared with Varanus komodoensis

Key Differences

African elephant is Vulnerable while Komodo Dragon is Endangered.
African elephant is herbivore while Komodo Dragon is carnivore.
African elephant is 85.7x heavier than Komodo Dragon.
African elephant lives longer (65 years vs 30 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	Komodo Dragon
Kingdom same	Animalia (สัตว์)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum same	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)	Reptilia (สัตว์เลื้อยคลาน)
Order	Proboscidea (อันดับช้าง)	Squamata (อันดับกิ้งก่าและงู)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)
Species	Loxodonta africana	Varanus komodoensis

Evolutionary Relationship

African elephant and Komodo Dragon share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)

ดู: Phylum: Chordata

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	Komodo Dragon
Diet	Herbivore	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	65 years	30 years
Average Length	6.0 m	2.6 m
Average Weight	6.0 t	70.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

African elephant

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 5 distinct biome types within the Afrotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Kenya. Currently classified as Vulnerable 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.

African elephant

The largest land animal on Earth, African elephants can reach 7,000 kg and inhabit sub-Saharan savannas, forests, and wetlands. Highly intelligent with complex social structures led by matriarchs, they communicate through infrasound, rumbles, and touch. As ecosystem engineers, they shape habitats by uprooting trees, digging waterholes, and dispersing seeds. Vulnerable, with populations declining due to ivory poaching and habitat loss.