African elephant vs Eastern spotted gummy shark

Loxodonta africana compared with Mustelus walkeri

Key Differences

• African elephant is Vulnerable while Eastern spotted gummy shark is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	Eastern spotted gummy shark
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)	Mustelus
Species	Loxodonta africana	Mustelus walkeri

Evolutionary Relationship

African elephant and Eastern spotted gummy shark share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Eastern spotted gummy shark

DD — Data Deficient

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	Eastern spotted gummy 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.

Eastern spotted gummy shark

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.