Komodo Dragon vs Pacific yam

Varanus komodoensis compared with Dioscorea nummularia

Key Differences

Komodo Dragon is Endangered while Pacific yam is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Komodo Dragon	Pacific yam
Kingdom	Animalia (hayvan)	Plantae (bitki)
Phylum	Chordata (Kordalılar)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Reptilia (Sürüngenler)	Liliopsida (Monocots)
Order	Squamata (Pullular)	Dioscoreales (Dioscoreales)
Family	Varanidae (Monitor Lizards)	Dioscoreaceae
Genus	Varanus (Monitor Lizards)	Dioscorea
Species	Varanus komodoensis	Dioscorea nummularia

Conservation Status

Komodo Dragon

EN — Endangered

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Stable →

Pacific yam

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Komodo Dragon	Pacific yam
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.

Pacific yam

Habitat

Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests within the Indomalayan biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Laos. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.