Éléphant de savane vs Sterne à ventre noir

Loxodonta africana compared with Sterna acuticauda

Key Differences

• Éléphant de savane is Vulnerable while Sterne à ventre noir is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Éléphant de savane	Sterne à ventre noir
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (mammifères)	Aves (oiseau)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Charadriiformes (Charadriiformes)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Laridae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Sterna
Species	Loxodonta africana	Sterna acuticauda

Evolutionary Relationship

Éléphant de savane and Sterne à ventre noir share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Éléphant de savane

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Sterne à ventre noir

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Éléphant de savane	Sterne à ventre noir
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.

Sterne à ventre noir

Habitat

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

Range

Found in Norway. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.

Sterne à ventre noir

The Black-bellied Tern (Sterna acuticauda) is a species in the genus Sterna. It is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.