Éléphant de savane vs Le Grand Porte-queue

Loxodonta africana compared with Papilio machaon

Key Differences

• Éléphant de savane is Vulnerable while Le Grand Porte-queue is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Éléphant de savane	Le Grand Porte-queue
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (arthropodes)
Class	Mammalia (mammifères)	Insecta (insecte)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Papilionidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Papilio
Species	Loxodonta africana	Papilio machaon

Evolutionary Relationship

Éléphant de savane and Le Grand Porte-queue share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (animal)

Conservation Status

Éléphant de savane

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Le Grand Porte-queue

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Éléphant de savane	Le Grand Porte-queue
Diet	Herbivore	—
Average Lifespan	65 years	—
Average Length	6.0 m	—
Average Weight	6.0 t	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

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.

Le Grand Porte-queue

Habitat

Inhabits Mediterranean forests and woodlands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Cyprus), Europe (39 countries), and North America (Canada).

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.

Le Grand Porte-queue

Artemisia Swallowtail (Papilio machaon) 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.