African elephant vs Balearean Spleenwort

Loxodonta africana compared with Asplenium balearicum

Key Differences

African elephant is Vulnerable while Balearean Spleenwort is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	Balearean Spleenwort
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Tracheophyta
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Polypodiopsida (Polypodiopsida)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Polypodiales (Polypodiales)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Aspleniaceae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Asplenium
Species	Loxodonta africana	Asplenium balearicum

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Balearean Spleenwort

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	Balearean Spleenwort
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.

Balearean Spleenwort

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.

Balearean Spleenwort

The Balearean Spleenwort (Asplenium balearicum) is a species in the genus Asplenium. It is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in moist, shaded forest floors and tropical canopies.