Afrikanischer Elefant vs Eaton's shield fern

Loxodonta africana compared with Polystichum scopulinum

Key Differences

Afrikanischer Elefant is Vulnerable while Eaton's shield fern is Extinct.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Afrikanischer Elefant	Eaton's shield fern
Kingdom	Animalia (Tier)	Plantae (Pflanzen)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Tracheophyta
Class	Mammalia (Säugetiere)	Polypodiopsida (Echte Farne)
Order	Proboscidea (Rüsseltiere)	Polypodiales (Tüpfelfarnartige)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Dryopteridaceae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Polystichum
Species	Loxodonta africana	Polystichum scopulinum

Conservation Status

Afrikanischer Elefant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Eaton's shield fern

EX — Extinct

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Afrikanischer Elefant	Eaton's shield fern
Diet	Herbivore	—
Average Lifespan	65 years	—
Average Length	6.0 m	—
Average Weight	6.0 t	—

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.

Eaton's shield fern

Habitat

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

Range

Found in Canada.

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.