Afrikanischer Elefant vs Green Sea Turtle

Loxodonta africana compared with Chelonia mydas

Key Differences

• Afrikanischer Elefant is Vulnerable while Green Sea Turtle is Endangered.
• Afrikanischer Elefant is 30.0x heavier than Green Sea Turtle.
• Green Sea Turtle lives longer (80 years vs 65 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Afrikanischer Elefant	Green Sea Turtle
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class	Mammalia (Säugetiere)	Reptilia (Reptilien)
Order	Proboscidea (Rüsseltiere)	Testudines (Schildkröten)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Cheloniidae (Sea Turtles)
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Chelonia (Green Sea Turtles)
Species	Loxodonta africana	Chelonia mydas

Evolutionary Relationship

Afrikanischer Elefant and Green Sea Turtle share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordatiere)

Conservation Status

Afrikanischer Elefant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Green Sea Turtle

EN — Endangered

Population: ~85.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Afrikanischer Elefant	Green Sea Turtle
Diet	Herbivore	Herbivore
Average Lifespan	65 years	80 years
Average Length	6.0 m	1.2 m
Average Weight	6.0 t	200.0 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.

Green Sea Turtle

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

Range

Distributed across Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Indonesia, and Mexico. Currently classified as 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.

Green Sea Turtle

The green sea turtle is one of the largest sea turtles. They are named for the green color of their cartilage and fat, not their shells.