Indischer Elefant vs Gemeine Nachtkerze

Elephas maximus compared with Oenothera biennis

Key Differences

• Indischer Elefant is Endangered while Gemeine Nachtkerze is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Indischer Elefant	Gemeine Nachtkerze
Kingdom	Animalia (Tier)	Plantae (Pflanzen)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Mammalia (Säugetiere)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Proboscidea (Rüsseltiere)	Myrtales (Myrtenartige)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Onagraceae
Genus	Elephas (Asian Elephants)	Oenothera
Species	Elephas maximus	Oenothera biennis

Conservation Status

Indischer Elefant

EN — Endangered

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Gemeine Nachtkerze

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Indischer Elefant	Gemeine Nachtkerze
Diet	Herbivore	—
Average Lifespan	60 years	—
Average Length	5.5 m	—
Average Weight	4.0 t	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Indischer Elefant

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

Range

Distributed across India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Gemeine Nachtkerze

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, and temperate coniferous forests, among 7 distinct biome types spanning the Indomalayan and Palearctic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Eswatini, South Africa), Asia (13 countries), Europe (35 countries), North America (Canada, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (Brazil, Chile).

Indischer Elefant

Smaller than its African cousin, Asiatic elephants range across South and Southeast Asian forests and grasslands from India to Indonesia. Distinguished by their smaller ears, rounded back, and a single finger-like projection on the trunk tip. Deeply interwoven with Asian cultures, they have been used in religious ceremonies and as working animals for millennia. Endangered, with fewer than 50,000 remaining in the wild.

Gemeine Nachtkerze

The Candlestick (Oenothera biennis) is a species in the genus Oenothera. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, and temperate coniferous forests, among 7 distinct biome types spanning the Indomalayan and Palearctic re

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇮🇳 India