Indischer Elefant vs Afrikanischer Löwe

Elephas maximus compared with Panthera leo

Key Differences

• Indischer Elefant is Endangered while Afrikanischer Löwe is Vulnerable.
• Indischer Elefant is herbivore while Afrikanischer Löwe is carnivore.
• Indischer Elefant is 21.1x heavier than Afrikanischer Löwe.
• Indischer Elefant lives longer (60 years vs 15 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Indischer Elefant	Afrikanischer Löwe
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)	Felidae (Cats)
Genus	Elephas (Asian Elephants)	Panthera (Big Cats)
Species	Elephas maximus	Panthera leo

Evolutionary Relationship

Indischer Elefant and Afrikanischer Löwe share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Säugetiere)

Conservation Status

Indischer Elefant

EN — Endangered

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Afrikanischer Löwe

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~23.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Indischer Elefant	Afrikanischer Löwe
Diet	Herbivore	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	60 years	15 years
Average Length	5.5 m	2.5 m
Average Weight	4.0 t	190.0 kg

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.

Afrikanischer Löwe

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 7 distinct biome types spanning the Afrotropic and Neotropic and Oceanian realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, and Kenya. 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.

Afrikanischer Löwe

The largest wild cat in Africa, lions reach up to 250 kg and are the only social felids, living in prides across sub-Saharan savannas and grasslands. Males are distinguished by their iconic manes. As apex predators, they regulate herbivore populations and maintain ecosystem balance. Listed as Vulnerable due to habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict.