African elephant vs chestnut worm

Loxodonta africana compared with Lumbricus castaneus

Key Differences

• African elephant is Vulnerable while chestnut worm is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	chestnut worm
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Annelida (Segmented Worms)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Clitellata (Clitellata)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Crassiclitellata (Crassiclitellata)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Lumbricidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Lumbricus
Species	Loxodonta africana	Lumbricus castaneus

Evolutionary Relationship

African elephant and chestnut worm share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

chestnut worm

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	chestnut worm
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.

chestnut worm

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, 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.

chestnut worm

The chestnut worm (Lumbricus castaneus) is a species in the genus Lumbricus. Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.