Afrikanischer Elefant vs Westigel, Braunbrustigel

Loxodonta africana compared with Erinaceus europaeus

Key Differences

• Afrikanischer Elefant is Vulnerable while Westigel, Braunbrustigel is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Afrikanischer Elefant	Westigel, Braunbrustigel
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class same	Mammalia (Säugetiere)	Mammalia (Säugetiere)
Order	Proboscidea (Rüsseltiere)	Erinaceomorpha (Erinaceomorpha)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Erinaceidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Erinaceus
Species	Loxodonta africana	Erinaceus europaeus

Evolutionary Relationship

Afrikanischer Elefant and Westigel, Braunbrustigel share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Säugetiere)

Conservation Status

Afrikanischer Elefant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Westigel, Braunbrustigel

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Afrikanischer Elefant	Westigel, Braunbrustigel
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.

Westigel, Braunbrustigel

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (China, Japan), Europe (8 countries), and Oceania and the Pacific (New Zealand).

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.

Westigel, Braunbrustigel

hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Widespread and abundant across its range, with stable populations and no immediate conservation concerns.