African elephant vs chimpanzee

Loxodonta africana compared with Pan troglodytes

Key Differences

• African elephant is Vulnerable while chimpanzee is Endangered.
• African elephant is herbivore while chimpanzee is omnivore.
• African elephant is 120.0x heavier than chimpanzee.
• African elephant lives longer (65 years vs 45 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	chimpanzee
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Primates (Primates)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Hominidae (Great Apes)
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Pan (Chimpanzees)
Species	Loxodonta africana	Pan troglodytes

Evolutionary Relationship

African elephant and chimpanzee share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Mammals)

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

chimpanzee

EN — Endangered

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	chimpanzee
Diet	Herbivore	Omnivore
Average Lifespan	65 years	45 years
Average Length	6.0 m	1.2 m
Average Weight	6.0 t	50.0 kg

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.

chimpanzee

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

Distributed across Cameroon, Congo (DRC), Guinea, Tanzania, and Uganda. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.

chimpanzee

Humanity's closest living relative, sharing approximately 98.7% of DNA, chimpanzees inhabit tropical forests and savanna woodlands across central and West Africa. Highly intelligent, social primates that use and make tools, display cultural traditions, and communicate with rich vocalizations including the distinctive pant-hoot. Endangered, with populations declining due to deforestation, bushmeat hunting, and disease transmission from humans.