African elephant vs Campbell shag

Loxodonta africana compared with Leucocarbo campbelli

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	Campbell shag
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Suliformes (Suliformes)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Phalacrocoracidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Leucocarbo
Species	Loxodonta africana	Leucocarbo campbelli

Evolutionary Relationship

African elephant and Campbell shag share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Campbell shag

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	Campbell shag
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.

Campbell shag

Habitat

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

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.

Campbell shag

The Campbell shag (Leucocarbo campbelli) is a species in the genus Leucocarbo. It is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.