African elephant vs Flowering Fern

Loxodonta africana compared with Osmunda regalis

Key Differences

• African elephant is Vulnerable while Flowering Fern is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	Flowering Fern
Kingdom	Animalia (प्राणी)	Plantae (पादप)
Phylum	Chordata (रज्जुकी)	Tracheophyta
Class	Mammalia (स्तनधारी)	Polypodiopsida (Polypodiopsida)
Order	Proboscidea (प्रोबोसीडिया)	Osmundales (Osmundales)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Osmundaceae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Osmunda
Species	Loxodonta africana	Osmunda regalis

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Flowering Fern

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	Flowering Fern
Diet	Herbivore	—
Average Lifespan	65 years	—
Average Length	6.0 m	—
Average Weight	6.0 t	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

African elephant

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.

Flowering Fern

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, tundra, and tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, among 7 distinct biome types spanning the Australasia and Neotropic and Oceanian realms.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (7 countries), North America (Cuba, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (New Zealand), and South America (Colombia). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

African elephant

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.