Komodo Dragon vs Mérida Nightshade

Varanus komodoensis compared with Solanum ripense

Key Differences

• Komodo Dragon is Endangered while Mérida Nightshade is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Komodo Dragon	Mérida Nightshade
Kingdom	Animalia (สัตว์)	Plantae (พืช)
Phylum	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Reptilia (สัตว์เลื้อยคลาน)	Magnoliopsida (พืชใบเลี้ยงคู่)
Order	Squamata (อันดับกิ้งก่าและงู)	Solanales (อันดับมะเขือ)
Family	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)	Solanaceae
Genus	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)	Solanum
Species	Varanus komodoensis	Solanum ripense

Conservation Status

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

Mérida Nightshade

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Komodo Dragon	Mérida Nightshade
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.

Mérida Nightshade

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Found in Colombia.

Komodo Dragon

The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard. It is found only on a few Indonesian islands.