Eastern Cape Cycad vs Epaulard

Encephalartos altensteinii compared with Orcinus orca

Key Differences

• Eastern Cape Cycad is Vulnerable while Epaulard is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Eastern Cape Cycad	Epaulard
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Tracheophyta	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Cycadopsida (Cycadopsida)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Cycadales (Cycadales)	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)
Family	Zamiaceae	Delphinidae (Oceanic Dolphins)
Genus	Encephalartos	Orcinus (Orcas)
Species	Encephalartos altensteinii	Orcinus orca

Conservation Status

Eastern Cape Cycad

VU — Vulnerable

Epaulard

DD — Data Deficient

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Unknown ?

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Eastern Cape Cycad	Epaulard
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	50 years
Average Length	—	8.0 m
Average Weight	—	5.4 t

Habitat & Geographic Range

Eastern Cape Cycad

Epaulard

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 11 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (4 countries), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela).

Epaulard

The largest member of the dolphin family, orcas reach up to 9 meters and 6 tonnes and are found in every ocean from Arctic to Antarctic. Apex predators living in matrilineal pods with distinct dialects, hunting strategies, and cultural traditions that differ between populations. Some populations specialize in fish, others in marine mammals. No natural predators; orcas sit at the top of every marine food chain they inhabit.