African elephant vs Brazilian potato-tree

Loxodonta africana compared with Solanum wrightii

Key Differences

African elephant is Vulnerable while Brazilian potato-tree is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	Brazilian potato-tree
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Solanales (Solanales)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Solanaceae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Solanum
Species	Loxodonta africana	Solanum wrightii

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Brazilian potato-tree

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	Brazilian potato-tree
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.

Brazilian potato-tree

Habitat

Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests within the Afrotropic biogeographic realm.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (4 countries), Asia (India), and South America (Colombia).

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.

Brazilian potato-tree

The Brazilian potato-tree (Solanum wrightii) is a species in the genus Solanum. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests within the Afrotropic biogeographic realm.