African elephant vs Onca

Loxodonta africana compared with Panthera onca

Key Differences

  • African elephant is Vulnerable while Onca is Near Threatened.
  • African elephant is herbivore while Onca is carnivore.
  • African elephant is 60.0x heavier than Onca.
  • African elephant lives longer (65 years vs 15 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank African elephant Onca
Kingdom same Animalia (Animals) Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same Chordata (cordados) Chordata (cordados)
Class same Mammalia (mamíferos) Mammalia (mamíferos)
Order Proboscidea (Elephants) Carnivora (carnívoros)
Family Elephantidae (Elephants) Felidae (Cats)
Genus Loxodonta (African Elephants) Panthera (Big Cats)
Species Loxodonta africana Panthera onca

Evolutionary Relationship

African elephant and Onca share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (mamíferos)

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Onca

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~64.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute African elephant Onca
Diet Herbivore Carnivore
Average Lifespan 65 years 15 years
Average Length 6.0 m 1.9 m
Average Weight 6.0 t 100.0 kg

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.

Onca

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

Range

Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

African elephant

O elefante africano, o maior animal terrestre da Terra, pode atingir 7.000 kg e habita savanas, florestas e zonas húmidas da África subsaariana. Com estruturas sociais complexas lideradas por matriarcas, comunica através de infrassons, rugidos e contacto físico. Como engenheiro do ecossistema, modela o habitat arrancando árvores, escavando poços de água e dispersando sementes. Está classificado como Vulnerável (VU), com populações em declínio devido à caça furtiva de marfim e à perda de habitat.

Onca

O maior felino das Américas, atingindo até 100 kg com corpo robusto e musculoso e pelagem com padrão de rosetas característico. Encontrado do México até a América do Sul, com populações mais expressivas na Amazônia e no Pantanal. Nadadores poderosos e predadores de topo, os jaguares desempenham papel fundamental na regulação das populações de presas. Classificado como Quase Ameaçado, com sua área de ocorrência diminuindo devido ao desmatamento.

Nature FYI Family

Explore more of the natural world across our sister sites.

Part of the Nature FYI family — FYIPedia