African elephant vs Blackspotted smooth-hound

Loxodonta africana compared with Triakis megalopterus

Key Differences

• African elephant is Vulnerable while Blackspotted smooth-hound is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	Blackspotted smooth-hound
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fish)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Carcharhiniformes (Ground Sharks)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Triakidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Triakis
Species	Loxodonta africana	Triakis megalopterus

Evolutionary Relationship

African elephant and Blackspotted smooth-hound share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Blackspotted smooth-hound

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	Blackspotted smooth-hound
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.

Blackspotted smooth-hound

Habitat

Typically found in marine environments from coastal waters to deep ocean.

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.

Blackspotted smooth-hound

The Blackspotted smooth-hound (Triakis megalopterus) is a species in the genus Triakis. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in marine environments from coastal waters to deep ocean.