Afrikanischer Elefant vs Ortolan

Loxodonta africana compared with Emberiza hortulana

Key Differences

• Afrikanischer Elefant is Vulnerable while Ortolan is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Afrikanischer Elefant	Ortolan
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class	Mammalia (Säugetiere)	Aves (Vögel)
Order	Proboscidea (Rüsseltiere)	Passeriformes (Sperlingsvögel)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Emberizidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Emberiza
Species	Loxodonta africana	Emberiza hortulana

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Afrikanischer Elefant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Ortolan

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Afrikanischer Elefant	Ortolan
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.

Ortolan

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, and temperate coniferous forests spanning the Indomalayan and Palearctic realms.

Range

Found across Asia (Taiwan) and Europe (7 countries). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.

Ortolan

Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortulana) is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List. Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild due to severe population decline and habitat loss.