African elephant vs Thwaites's Nut Truffle

Loxodonta africana compared with Hymenogaster thwaitesii

Key Differences

African elephant is Vulnerable while Thwaites's Nut Truffle is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	Thwaites's Nut Truffle
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Hymenogastraceae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Hymenogaster
Species	Loxodonta africana	Hymenogaster thwaitesii

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Thwaites's Nut Truffle

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	Thwaites's Nut Truffle
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.

Thwaites's Nut Truffle

Habitat

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Range

Found in Norway.

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.