Komodo Dragon vs Mossy Fern

Varanus komodoensis compared with Elaphoglossum furcatum

Key Differences

• Komodo Dragon is Endangered while Mossy Fern is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Komodo Dragon	Mossy Fern
Kingdom	Animalia (สัตว์)	Plantae (พืช)
Phylum	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Tracheophyta
Class	Reptilia (สัตว์เลื้อยคลาน)	Polypodiopsida (Polypodiopsida)
Order	Squamata (อันดับกิ้งก่าและงู)	Polypodiales (Polypodiales)
Family	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)	Dryopteridaceae
Genus	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)	Elaphoglossum
Species	Varanus komodoensis	Elaphoglossum furcatum

Conservation Status

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

Mossy Fern

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Komodo Dragon	Mossy Fern
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.

Mossy Fern

Habitat

Typically found in moist, shaded forest floors and tropical canopies.

Komodo Dragon

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