African Brush-tailed Porcupine vs Éléphant de savane

Atherurus africanus compared with Loxodonta africana

Key Differences

• African Brush-tailed Porcupine is Least Concern while Éléphant de savane is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African Brush-tailed Porcupine	Éléphant de savane
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (mammifères)	Mammalia (mammifères)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Proboscidea (Elephants)
Family	Hystricidae	Elephantidae (Elephants)
Genus	Atherurus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)
Species	Atherurus africanus	Loxodonta africana

Evolutionary Relationship

African Brush-tailed Porcupine and Éléphant de savane share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (mammifères)

Conservation Status

African Brush-tailed Porcupine

LC — Least Concern

Éléphant de savane

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African Brush-tailed Porcupine	Éléphant de savane
Diet	—	Herbivore
Average Lifespan	—	65 years
Average Length	—	6.0 m
Average Weight	—	6.0 t

Habitat & Geographic Range

African Brush-tailed Porcupine

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Éléphant de savane

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.

African Brush-tailed Porcupine

The African Brush-tailed Porcupine (Atherurus africanus) is a species in the genus Atherurus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. This species inhabits Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Éléphant de savane

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.