Éléphant de savane vs Black Oil-beetle

Loxodonta africana compared with Meloe proscarabaeus

Key Differences

• Éléphant de savane is Vulnerable while Black Oil-beetle is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Éléphant de savane	Black Oil-beetle
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (arthropodes)
Class	Mammalia (mammifères)	Insecta (insecte)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Coleoptera (Beetles)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Meloidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Meloe
Species	Loxodonta africana	Meloe proscarabaeus

Evolutionary Relationship

Éléphant de savane and Black Oil-beetle share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (animal)

Conservation Status

Éléphant de savane

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Black Oil-beetle

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Éléphant de savane	Black Oil-beetle
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.

Black Oil-beetle

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. 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.

Black Oil-beetle

The Black Oil-beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus) is a species in the genus Meloe. It is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.