African elephant vs coastal plain yellowtops

Loxodonta africana compared with Flaveria bidentis

Key Differences

• African elephant is Vulnerable while coastal plain yellowtops is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	coastal plain yellowtops
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Asterales (Daisies & Sunflowers)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Asteraceae (Daisy Family)
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Flaveria
Species	Loxodonta africana	Flaveria bidentis

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

coastal plain yellowtops

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	coastal plain yellowtops
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.

coastal plain yellowtops

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (6 countries), Asia (4 countries), Europe (8 countries), and South America (Brazil).

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.

coastal plain yellowtops

Coastal plain yellowtops (Flaveria bidentis) is an annual herb in the family Asteraceae, native to South America, particularly Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile, but widely naturalised across subtropical and warm temperate regions worldwide, including parts of Africa, Europe, and Asia. It grows in disturbed coastal plains, roadsides, agricultural margins, and sandy soils near the coast. The plant bears clusters of small yellow flowerheads in dense corymbs, blooming from summer to autumn. Flaveria bidentis is scientifically notable as one of the few species in the genus confirmed to use C4 photosynthesis, a more efficient carbon fixation pathway typically associated with hot, arid environments. This physiological trait contributes to its competitiveness as a ruderal weed. Plants grow erect to around 1 metre, with serrate opposite leaves. It is considered a weed in some agricultural systems but poses no major conservation concerns. Its IUCN status is Not Evaluated, consistent with its ruderal, widespread, and self-sustaining nature. Research on the genus Flaveria has contributed significantly to understanding the evolution of C4 photosynthesis.