African elephant vs Common Hawthorn

Loxodonta africana compared with Crataegus monogyna

Key Differences

African elephant is Vulnerable while Common Hawthorn is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	Common Hawthorn
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Rosales (Roses & Allies)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Rosaceae (Rose Family)
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Crataegus
Species	Loxodonta africana	Crataegus monogyna

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Common Hawthorn

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	Common Hawthorn
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.

Common Hawthorn

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (South Africa), Asia (India), Europe (9 countries), North America (Canada, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia, New Zealand), and South America (Argentina, Chile, 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.

Common Hawthorn

The common hawthorn, <em>Crataegus monogyna</em>, is a flowering shrub or small tree belonging to the family Rosaceae. This species has one of the widest distributions of any hawthorn, with its range encompassing Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America, reflecting both its native Eurasian distribution and extensive introduction worldwide. <em>Crataegus monogyna</em> is typically found in hedgerows, woodland edges, scrubland, and disturbed habitats across a broad range of temperate climates. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating widespread and stable populations. The species produces white flowers in spring and small red berries, known as haws, in autumn, which provide important food resources for birds and other wildlife. No dietary information has been provided for this species. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.