Afrikanischer Elefant vs Gänsesäger

Loxodonta africana compared with Mergus merganser

Key Differences

• Afrikanischer Elefant is Vulnerable while Gänsesäger is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Afrikanischer Elefant	Gänsesäger
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class	Mammalia (Säugetiere)	Aves (Vögel)
Order	Proboscidea (Rüsseltiere)	Anseriformes (Gänsevögel)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Anatidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Mergus
Species	Loxodonta africana	Mergus merganser

Evolutionary Relationship

Afrikanischer Elefant and Gänsesäger share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordatiere)

Conservation Status

Afrikanischer Elefant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Gänsesäger

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Afrikanischer Elefant	Gänsesäger
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.

Gänsesäger

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Found across Europe (5 countries) and North America (United States).

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.

Gänsesäger

<em>Mergus merganser</em>, the common merganser or goosander, is a large diving duck in the family Anatidae, broadly distributed across Europe and North America. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. This species is capable of aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic locomotion, but is most specialized for underwater pursuit of prey. The common merganser is typically piscivorous, diving in clear, fast-flowing rivers and lakes to catch fish using its serrated bill, which provides a firm grip on slippery prey. Males display striking breeding plumage with a dark green head, white body, and red bill, while females are grey with a rusty-brown head and crested nape. The species nests in tree cavities, cliff ledges, and artificial nest boxes near freshwater habitats. It requires clean, well-oxygenated rivers and lakes for foraging, making it sensitive to water quality degradation and overfishing of prey species. Common mergansers are migratory in northern parts of their range, moving to coastal and ice-free inland waters during winter months.