African elephant vs Balding Pincushion

Loxodonta africana compared with Ulota calvescens

Key Differences

• African elephant is Vulnerable while Balding Pincushion is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	Balding Pincushion
Kingdom	Animalia (حيوانات)	Plantae (نباتات)
Phylum	Chordata (حبليات)	Bryophyta
Class	Mammalia (ثدييات)	Bryopsida (حزازيات حقيقية)
Order	Proboscidea (خرطوميات)	Orthotrichales (Orthotrichales)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Orthotrichaceae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Ulota
Species	Loxodonta africana	Ulota calvescens

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Balding Pincushion

DD — Data Deficient

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	Balding Pincushion
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.

Balding Pincushion

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Norway, Portugal, and Sweden.

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.

Balding Pincushion

The Balding Pincushion (Ulota calvescens) is a species in the genus Ulota. Its conservation status is listed as Data Deficient, indicating insufficient data for assessment. Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.