Afrikanischer Elefant vs Maui's paddle

Loxodonta africana compared with Elaphoglossum crassicaule

Key Differences

• Afrikanischer Elefant is Vulnerable while Maui's paddle is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Afrikanischer Elefant	Maui's paddle
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)	Elaphoglossum
Species	Loxodonta africana	Elaphoglossum crassicaule

Conservation Status

Afrikanischer Elefant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Maui's paddle

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Afrikanischer Elefant	Maui's paddle
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.

Maui's paddle

Habitat

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

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.