Clouded Agaric vs Komodo Dragon

Clitocybe nebularis compared with Varanus komodoensis

Key Differences

Clouded Agaric is Least Concern while Komodo Dragon is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Clouded Agaric	Komodo Dragon
Kingdom	Fungi (เห็ดรา)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Reptilia (สัตว์เลื้อยคลาน)
Order	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Squamata (อันดับกิ้งก่าและงู)
Family	Tricholomataceae	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)
Genus	Clitocybe	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)
Species	Clitocybe nebularis	Varanus komodoensis

Conservation Status

Clouded Agaric

LC — Least Concern

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Clouded Agaric

Habitat

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan, and United States.

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.

Clouded Agaric

The clouded agaric (Clitocybe nebularis, syn. Lepista nebularis) is a large, robust saprotrophic mushroom in the family Tricholomataceae found across temperate broadleaved and mixed forests of Europe and North America. It produces pale grey to buff fruiting bodies with broad, wavy caps up to 20 cm diameter, crowded, slightly decurrent gills, and a stout stipe, typically emerging in large fairy rings or scattered groups in autumn woodland settings. The common name 'clouded' refers to the greyish, misty coloration of the cap surface. Though historically eaten in parts of Europe and considered edible when thoroughly cooked, C. nebularis is now known to contain toxic compounds and a heat-labile gastrointestinal toxin that causes illness in some individuals, and it is associated with documented poisoning cases. Its strong mealy odor is distinctive. The species is widespread and common across European deciduous forests, fruiting reliably in autumn and forming an important component of the saprotrophic fungal community responsible for decomposing accumulated leaf litter and organic matter in temperate forest ecosystems.