African elephant vs Australian brake

Loxodonta africana compared with Pteris tremula

Key Differences

• African elephant is Vulnerable while Australian brake is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	Australian brake
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Tracheophyta
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Polypodiopsida (Polypodiopsida)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Polypodiales (Polypodiales)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Pteridaceae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Pteris
Species	Loxodonta africana	Pteris tremula

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Australian brake

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	Australian brake
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.

Australian brake

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Portugal, South Africa, Spain, and United States.

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.

Australian brake

The Australian brake (Pteris tremula) is a species in the genus Pteris. Typically found in moist, shaded forest floors and tropical canopies. Pteris tremula contributes to the biodiversity of its native ecosystems.