African elephant vs American Yew

Loxodonta africana compared with Taxus canadensis

Key Differences

• African elephant is Vulnerable while American Yew is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	American Yew
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Coniferophyta (Conifers)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Pinopsida (Conifers)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Pinales (Pines & Allies)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Taxaceae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Taxus
Species	Loxodonta africana	Taxus canadensis

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

American Yew

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	American Yew
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.

American Yew

Habitat

Typically found in temperate and boreal forests, often at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Canada, France, Norway, and United States.

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.

American Yew

The American Yew (Taxus canadensis) is a species in the genus Taxus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in temperate and boreal forests, often at higher elevations.