Epaulard vs Madeira Filmy Fern

Orcinus orca compared with Hymenophyllum maderense

Key Differences

Epaulard is Data Deficient while Madeira Filmy Fern is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Epaulard	Madeira Filmy Fern
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Tracheophyta
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Polypodiopsida (Polypodiopsida)
Order	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)	Hymenophyllales (Hymenophyllales)
Family	Delphinidae (Oceanic Dolphins)	Hymenophyllaceae
Genus	Orcinus (Orcas)	Hymenophyllum
Species	Orcinus orca	Hymenophyllum maderense

Conservation Status

Epaulard

DD — Data Deficient

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Unknown ?

Madeira Filmy Fern

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Epaulard	Madeira Filmy Fern
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	50 years	—
Average Length	8.0 m	—
Average Weight	5.4 t	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

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).

Madeira Filmy Fern

Habitat

Typically found in moist, shaded forest floors and tropical canopies.

Range

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

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.