African chimaera vs African elephant

Hydrolagus africanus compared with Loxodonta africana

Key Differences

African chimaera is Least Concern while African elephant is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African chimaera	African elephant
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Holocephali (Holocephali)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Chimaeriformes (Chimaeriformes)	Proboscidea (Elephants)
Family	Chimaeridae	Elephantidae (Elephants)
Genus	Hydrolagus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)
Species	Hydrolagus africanus	Loxodonta africana

Evolutionary Relationship

African chimaera and African elephant share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

View Phylum: Chordata

Conservation Status

African chimaera

LC — Least Concern

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African chimaera	African elephant
Diet	—	Herbivore
Average Lifespan	—	65 years
Average Length	—	6.0 m
Average Weight	—	6.0 t

Habitat & Geographic Range

African chimaera

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.

African chimaera

The African chimaera (Hydrolagus africanus) is a species in the genus Hydrolagus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

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.