Indischer Elefant vs Iltis, Waldiltis

Elephas maximus compared with Mustela putorius

Key Differences

• Indischer Elefant is Endangered while Iltis, Waldiltis is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Indischer Elefant	Iltis, Waldiltis
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class same	Mammalia (Säugetiere)	Mammalia (Säugetiere)
Order	Proboscidea (Rüsseltiere)	Carnivora (Raubtiere)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Elephas (Asian Elephants)	Mustela
Species	Elephas maximus	Mustela putorius

Evolutionary Relationship

Indischer Elefant and Iltis, Waldiltis share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Säugetiere)

Conservation Status

Indischer Elefant

EN — Endangered

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Iltis, Waldiltis

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Indischer Elefant	Iltis, Waldiltis
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.

Iltis, Waldiltis

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found across Europe (10 countries) and South America (Brazil, Colombia). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.

Iltis, Waldiltis

European polecat (Mustela putorius) is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List. Facing a high risk of endangerment in the wild, with declining populations and increasing habitat pressure.