Afrikanischer Elefant vs Merlin

Loxodonta africana compared with Falco columbarius

Key Differences

• Afrikanischer Elefant is Vulnerable while Merlin is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Afrikanischer Elefant	Merlin
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class	Mammalia (Säugetiere)	Aves (Vögel)
Order	Proboscidea (Rüsseltiere)	Falconiformes (Falkenartige)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Falconidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Falco
Species	Loxodonta africana	Falco columbarius

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Afrikanischer Elefant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Merlin

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Afrikanischer Elefant	Merlin
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.

Merlin

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (5 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela).

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.

Merlin

Merlin (Falco columbarius) is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Widespread and abundant across its range, with stable populations and no immediate conservation concerns.