African elephant vs Common Smoketree

Loxodonta africana compared with Cotinus coggygria

Key Differences

African elephant is Vulnerable while Common Smoketree is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	Common Smoketree
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Sapindales (Sapindales)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Anacardiaceae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Cotinus
Species	Loxodonta africana	Cotinus coggygria

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Common Smoketree

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	Common Smoketree
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 Smoketree

Habitat

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

Range

Found across Europe (9 countries) and North America (Canada, 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.

Common Smoketree

<em>Cotinus coggygria</em>, commonly known as the Common Smoketree or Eurasian Smoketree, is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the family Anacardiaceae, order Sapindales. It has not been evaluated on the IUCN Red List, but the species is widely cultivated and naturalized across temperate regions, suggesting populations are generally stable. The common name refers to the feathery, smoke-like inflorescences that develop after flowering, produced by elongated, hairy pedicels that persist and give the plant a hazy, ethereal appearance. Native to a broad range from southern Europe through central Asia and China, <em>Cotinus coggygria</em> is typically found in rocky slopes, scrubland, dry open woodlands, and calcareous or well-drained soils in warm temperate climates. It is widely distributed across Europe, including Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, and Germany, and is also cultivated in Canada and the United States. The leaves turn striking shades of yellow, orange, and red in autumn, making this a popular ornamental plant in horticulture. As a woody plant, it obtains nutrients through soil absorption and photosynthesis. The wood and bark contain tannins and have historical uses in dyeing and traditional medicine. Specific data on lifespan and precise dimensions vary considerably with growing conditions.