African elephant vs St Helena Filmy Fern

Loxodonta africana compared with Hymenophyllum capillaceum

Key Differences

• African elephant is Vulnerable while St Helena Filmy Fern is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	St Helena Filmy Fern
Kingdom	Animalia (حيوانات)	Plantae (نباتات)
Phylum	Chordata (حبليات)	Tracheophyta
Class	Mammalia (ثدييات)	Polypodiopsida (سراخس رقيقة المباغ)
Order	Proboscidea (خرطوميات)	Hymenophyllales (Hymenophyllales)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Hymenophyllaceae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Hymenophyllum
Species	Loxodonta africana	Hymenophyllum capillaceum

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

St Helena Filmy Fern

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	St Helena Filmy Fern
Diet	Herbivore	—
Average Lifespan	65 years	—
Average Length	6.0 m	—
Average Weight	6.0 t	—

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.

St Helena Filmy Fern

Habitat

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

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.