Buckelwal vs Rothirsch

Megaptera novaeangliae compared with Cervus elaphus

Key Differences

• Buckelwal is carnivore while Rothirsch is herbivore.
• Buckelwal is 125.0x heavier than Rothirsch.
• Buckelwal lives longer (50 years vs 20 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Buckelwal	Rothirsch
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class same	Mammalia (Säugetiere)	Mammalia (Säugetiere)
Order	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)	Artiodactyla (Paarhufer)
Family	Balaenopteridae (Rorquals)	Cervidae (Deer)
Genus	Megaptera (Humpback Whales)	Cervus (True Deer)
Species	Megaptera novaeangliae	Cervus elaphus

Evolutionary Relationship

Buckelwal and Rothirsch share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Säugetiere)

Conservation Status

Buckelwal

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~80.0K

Trend: Increasing ↑

Rothirsch

VU — Vulnerable

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Buckelwal	Rothirsch
Diet	Carnivore	Herbivore
Average Lifespan	50 years	20 years
Average Length	15.0 m	2.1 m
Average Weight	30.0 t	240.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Buckelwal

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 11 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (5 countries), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Rothirsch

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, among 12 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (South Africa), Asia (Afghanistan, Indonesia), Europe (11 countries), North America (Mexico), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia, New Zealand), and South America (Argentina, Chile, Peru). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Buckelwal

Among the most acrobatic of the great whales, humpback whales are renowned for their complex, haunting songs sung by males during breeding season — some lasting hours and evolving over time. Reaching 16 meters and 30 tonnes, they undertake the longest migrations of any mammal. Found in all oceans, humpbacks feed on krill and small fish using cooperative bubble-net feeding. Populations have largely recovered from historic whaling.

Rothirsch

Also known as the red deer, elk are among the largest members of the deer family, with antlered males reaching up to 240 kg. Found across temperate forests and grasslands of Europe, Asia, and North America, where populations were historically separated as distinct subspecies. Males shed and regrow their antlers annually, engaging in dramatic roaring contests during autumn rut. An important game and conservation species across its range.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden