Éléphant de savane vs brown slug

Loxodonta africana compared with Deroceras laeve

Key Differences

• Éléphant de savane is Vulnerable while brown slug is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Éléphant de savane	brown slug
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Mollusca (mollusques)
Class	Mammalia (mammifères)	Gastropoda (Gastropoda)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Stylommatophora (Stylommatophora)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Agriolimacidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Deroceras
Species	Loxodonta africana	Deroceras laeve

Evolutionary Relationship

Éléphant de savane and brown slug share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (animal)

Conservation Status

Éléphant de savane

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

brown slug

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Éléphant de savane	brown slug
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.

brown slug

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, and temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, among 7 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Cabo Verde, Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa), Asia (4 countries), Europe (9 countries), North America (Guatemala, Mexico, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (New Zealand), and South America (5 countries).

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.

brown slug

The Brown Slug (Deroceras laeve) is a species in the genus Deroceras. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, and temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, among 7 distinct biome types. Populations are also fo