African elephant vs Anderson s Shrew Mole

Loxodonta africana compared with Uropsilus andersoni

Key Differences

• African elephant is Vulnerable while Anderson s Shrew Mole is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	Anderson s Shrew Mole
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Talpidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Uropsilus
Species	Loxodonta africana	Uropsilus andersoni

Evolutionary Relationship

African elephant and Anderson s Shrew Mole share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Mammals)

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Anderson s Shrew Mole

DD — Data Deficient

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	Anderson s Shrew Mole
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.

Anderson s Shrew Mole

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

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.

Anderson s Shrew Mole

The Anderson s Shrew Mole (Uropsilus andersoni) is a species in the genus Uropsilus. Its conservation status is listed as Data Deficient, indicating insufficient data for assessment. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.