Afrikanischer Elefant vs Hard Milkwood

Loxodonta africana compared with Alstonia spatulata

Key Differences

• Afrikanischer Elefant is Vulnerable while Hard Milkwood is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Afrikanischer Elefant	Hard Milkwood
Kingdom	Animalia (Tier)	Plantae (Pflanzen)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Mammalia (Säugetiere)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Proboscidea (Rüsseltiere)	Gentianales (Enzianartige)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Apocynaceae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Alstonia
Species	Loxodonta africana	Alstonia spatulata

Conservation Status

Afrikanischer Elefant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Hard Milkwood

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Afrikanischer Elefant	Hard Milkwood
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.

Hard Milkwood

Habitat

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

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.