Asiatic elephant vs common brown lemur

Elephas maximus compared with Eulemur fulvus

Key Differences

• Asiatic elephant is Endangered while common brown lemur is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Asiatic elephant	common brown lemur
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Primates (Primates)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Lemuridae (Lemurs)
Genus	Elephas (Asian Elephants)	Eulemur
Species	Elephas maximus	Eulemur fulvus

Evolutionary Relationship

Asiatic elephant and common brown lemur share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Mammals)

Conservation Status

Asiatic elephant

EN — Endangered

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

common brown lemur

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Asiatic elephant	common brown lemur
Diet	Herbivore	—
Average Lifespan	60 years	—
Average Length	5.5 m	—
Average Weight	4.0 t	—

Habitat & Geographic 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.

common brown lemur

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

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.

common brown lemur

The common brown lemur (<em>Eulemur fulvus</em>) is a medium-sized primate endemic to Madagascar, typically inhabiting diverse terrestrial and aquatic environments including tropical moist forests. This species is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, reflecting significant population declines driven primarily by habitat loss and fragmentation resulting from deforestation and land conversion across its native range. As a member of the family Lemuridae, the common brown lemur is characterized by its brown to gray fur, pale face patches, and social group-living behavior. The species is typically diurnal and cathemeral, meaning it may be active during both day and night depending on season and conditions. It often feeds on fruits, leaves, flowers, and invertebrates, making it an important seed disperser in Malagasy forest ecosystems. The common brown lemur typically lives in social groups ranging in size from a few individuals to over a dozen animals. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.