Afrikanischer Elefant vs Orang-Utan

Loxodonta africana compared with Pongo pygmaeus

Key Differences

• Afrikanischer Elefant is Vulnerable while Orang-Utan is Critically Endangered.
• Afrikanischer Elefant is herbivore while Orang-Utan is omnivore.
• Afrikanischer Elefant is 80.0x heavier than Orang-Utan.
• Afrikanischer Elefant lives longer (65 years vs 35 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Afrikanischer Elefant	Orang-Utan
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class same	Mammalia (Säugetiere)	Mammalia (Säugetiere)
Order	Proboscidea (Rüsseltiere)	Primates (Primaten)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Hominidae (Great Apes)
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Pongo (Orangutans)
Species	Loxodonta africana	Pongo pygmaeus

Evolutionary Relationship

Afrikanischer Elefant and Orang-Utan share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Säugetiere)

Conservation Status

Afrikanischer Elefant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Orang-Utan

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~104.7K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Afrikanischer Elefant	Orang-Utan
Diet	Herbivore	Omnivore
Average Lifespan	65 years	35 years
Average Length	6.0 m	1.4 m
Average Weight	6.0 t	75.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Afrikanischer Elefant

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.

Orang-Utan

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 5 distinct biome types spanning the Australasia and Indomalayan realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Indonesia and Malaysia. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Afrikanischer Elefant

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.

Orang-Utan

The world's largest arboreal mammal, Bornean orangutans weigh up to 90 kg and spend most of their lives in the rainforest canopy of Borneo. Solitary and semi-nomadic, they build nightly sleeping nests in trees and forage for fruit, leaves, and invertebrates. Critically Endangered, with populations having declined by over 50% in the past 60 years due to deforestation from palm oil expansion and illegal hunting.