Afrikanischer Elefant vs Gefleckte Heidelibelle

Loxodonta africana compared with Sympetrum flaveolum

Key Differences

• Afrikanischer Elefant is Vulnerable while Gefleckte Heidelibelle is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Afrikanischer Elefant	Gefleckte Heidelibelle
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Arthropoda (Gliederfüßer)
Class	Mammalia (Säugetiere)	Insecta (Insekten)
Order	Proboscidea (Rüsseltiere)	Odonata (Libellen)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Libellulidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Sympetrum
Species	Loxodonta africana	Sympetrum flaveolum

Evolutionary Relationship

Afrikanischer Elefant and Gefleckte Heidelibelle share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Tier)

Conservation Status

Afrikanischer Elefant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Gefleckte Heidelibelle

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Afrikanischer Elefant	Gefleckte Heidelibelle
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.

Gefleckte Heidelibelle

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, 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.