Angel ray vs Asiatic elephant

Squatina nebulosa compared with Elephas maximus

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Angel ray	Asiatic elephant
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Elasmobranchii	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Squatiniformes (Squatiniformes)	Proboscidea (Elephants)
Family	Squatinidae	Elephantidae (Elephants)
Genus	Squatina	Elephas (Asian Elephants)
Species	Squatina nebulosa	Elephas maximus

Evolutionary Relationship

Angel ray and Asiatic elephant share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Angel ray

EN — Endangered

Asiatic elephant

EN — Endangered

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Angel ray	Asiatic elephant
Diet	—	Herbivore
Average Lifespan	—	60 years
Average Length	—	5.5 m
Average Weight	—	4.0 t

Habitat & Geographic Range

Angel ray

Habitat

Native to Asia, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found in Taiwan. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Asiatic elephant

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 9 distinct biome types spanning the Australasia and Indomalayan and Palearctic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Angel ray

The Angel ray (Squatina nebulosa) is a species in the genus Squatina. It is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Native to Asia, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Asiatic elephant

Smaller than its African cousin, Asiatic elephants range across South and Southeast Asian forests and grasslands from India to Indonesia. Distinguished by their smaller ears, rounded back, and a single finger-like projection on the trunk tip. Deeply interwoven with Asian cultures, they have been used in religious ceremonies and as working animals for millennia. Endangered, with fewer than 50,000 remaining in the wild.