African elephant vs African wild ass

Loxodonta africana compared with Equus africanus

Key Differences

• African elephant is Vulnerable while African wild ass is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	African wild ass
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Perissodactyla (Odd-toed Ungulates)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Equidae (Horses & Zebras)
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Equus (Horses & Zebras)
Species	Loxodonta africana	Equus africanus

Evolutionary Relationship

African elephant and African wild ass share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Mammals)

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

African wild ass

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	African wild ass
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.

African wild ass

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in United Arab Emirates. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.

African wild ass

The African wild ass (Equus africanus) is a species in the genus Equus. It is currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.