Afrikanischer Elefant vs Wiesen-Trichterling

Loxodonta africana compared with Clitocybe agrestis

Key Differences

Afrikanischer Elefant is Vulnerable while Wiesen-Trichterling is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Afrikanischer Elefant	Wiesen-Trichterling
Kingdom	Animalia (Tier)	Fungi (Pilze)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Basidiomycota (Ständerpilze)
Class	Mammalia (Säugetiere)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Proboscidea (Rüsseltiere)	Agaricales (Champignonartige)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Tricholomataceae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Clitocybe
Species	Loxodonta africana	Clitocybe agrestis

Conservation Status

Afrikanischer Elefant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Wiesen-Trichterling

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Afrikanischer Elefant	Wiesen-Trichterling
Diet	Herbivore	—
Average Lifespan	65 years	—
Average Length	6.0 m	—
Average Weight	6.0 t	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Afrikanischer Elefant

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.

Wiesen-Trichterling

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden.

Afrikanischer Elefant

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.

Wiesen-Trichterling

Clitocybe agrestis is a small, pale agaric fungus in the family Tricholomataceae found across Western and Northern Europe, recorded from Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden. It typically inhabits open grassy habitats including meadows, pastures, lawns, and roadsides, fruiting in autumn when moisture conditions are favorable. The cap is whitish to pale buff, often inrolled when young and becoming broadly flattened to slightly funnel-shaped with age, with crowded, decurrent gills and a short cylindrical stipe. The genus Clitocybe is characterized by the funnel-shaped or depressed cap and decurrent gill arrangement that gives many species a distinctive appearance. C. agrestis is a saprotrophic decomposer, breaking down plant litter and organic matter in grassland soils. It may be confused with toxic Clitocybe species, making accurate identification important. The species is listed as Least Concern, though European grassland fungi broadly face pressure from agricultural intensification, nitrogen deposition, and conversion of diverse meadows to monoculture pastures.