African elephant vs Cenderwasih Epaulette shark

Loxodonta africana compared with Hemiscyllium galei

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	Cenderwasih Epaulette shark
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Elasmobranchii
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Orectolobiformes (Orectolobiformes)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Hemiscylliidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Hemiscyllium
Species	Loxodonta africana	Hemiscyllium galei

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Cenderwasih Epaulette shark

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	Cenderwasih Epaulette shark
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.

Cenderwasih Epaulette shark

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.

Cenderwasih Epaulette shark

The Cenderwasih Epaulette Shark (Hemiscyllium galei) is a species in the genus Hemiscyllium. It is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.