African elephant vs Black-backed Fruit-Dove

Loxodonta africana compared with Ptilinopus cinctus

Key Differences

• African elephant is Vulnerable while Black-backed Fruit-Dove is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	Black-backed Fruit-Dove
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Columbiformes (Pigeons & Doves)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Columbidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Ptilinopus
Species	Loxodonta africana	Ptilinopus cinctus

Evolutionary Relationship

African elephant and Black-backed Fruit-Dove share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Black-backed Fruit-Dove

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	Black-backed Fruit-Dove
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.

Black-backed Fruit-Dove

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Found in Norway.

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.

Black-backed Fruit-Dove

The Black-backed Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus cinctus) is a species in the genus Ptilinopus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.