African elephant vs Broad Buckler Fern
Loxodonta africana compared with Dryopteris expansa
Key Differences
- African elephant is Vulnerable while Broad Buckler Fern is Least Concern.
Taxonomic Classification
| Rank | African elephant | Broad Buckler Fern |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia (Animals) | Plantae (Plants) |
| Phylum | Chordata (Chordates) | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Mammalia (Mammals) | Polypodiopsida (Polypodiopsida) |
| Order | Proboscidea (Elephants) | Polypodiales (Polypodiales) |
| Family | Elephantidae (Elephants) | Dryopteridaceae |
| Genus | Loxodonta (African Elephants) | Dryopteris |
| Species | Loxodonta africana | Dryopteris expansa |
Conservation Status
African elephant
VU — VulnerablePopulation: ~415.0K
Trend: Decreasing ↓
Broad Buckler Fern
LC — Least ConcernPhysical Characteristics
| Attribute | African elephant | Broad Buckler Fern |
|---|---|---|
| Diet | Herbivore | — |
| Average Lifespan | 65 years | — |
| Average Length | 6.0 m | — |
| Average Weight | 6.0 t | — |
Habitat & Geographic Range
African elephant
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.
Found in Kenya. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.
Broad Buckler Fern
Typically found in moist, shaded forest floors and tropical canopies.
Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (7 countries), and North America (Canada, 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.
Broad Buckler Fern
The Broad Buckler Fern (Dryopteris expansa) is a species in the genus Dryopteris. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in moist, shaded forest floors and tropical canopies.
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