vs African elephant

Acrocordia gemmata compared with Loxodonta africana

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		African elephant
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Dothideomycetes (Dothideomycetes)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Monoblastiales (Monoblastiales)	Proboscidea (Elephants)
Family	Monoblastiaceae	Elephantidae (Elephants)
Genus	Acrocordia	Loxodonta (African Elephants)
Species	Acrocordia gemmata	Loxodonta africana

Conservation Status

VU — Vulnerable

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and United States. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its 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.

Acrocordia gemmata is a crustose lichen in the family Monoblastiaceae, assessed as Vulnerable (VU). It grows on smooth bark of old trees in ancient woodland habitats, and its presence is considered an indicator of long ecological continuity. Habitat loss through the removal of veteran trees is the primary threat to this species.

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.