African elephant vs

Loxodonta africana compared with Rhizocarpon oederi

Key Differences

• African elephant is Vulnerable while is Extinct.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Rhizocarpales (Rhizocarpales)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Rhizocarpaceae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Rhizocarpon
Species	Loxodonta africana	Rhizocarpon oederi

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

EX — Extinct

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant
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.

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

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.

Rhizocarpon oederi is a crustose lichen historically recorded on siliceous rocks across parts of Europe and North America. It is now classified as Extinct (EX) on the IUCN Red List, representing one of the few lichen species confirmed to have been lost. Its disappearance is attributed to habitat destruction, air pollution, and the very specific microhabitat requirements that made it vulnerable.