Éléphant de savane vs Buckthorn Roller

Loxodonta africana compared with Ancylis unculana

Key Differences

• Éléphant de savane is Vulnerable while Buckthorn Roller is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Éléphant de savane	Buckthorn Roller
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)	Tortricidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Ancylis
Species	Loxodonta africana	Ancylis unculana

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Éléphant de savane

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Buckthorn Roller

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Éléphant de savane	Buckthorn Roller
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.

Buckthorn Roller

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

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.

Buckthorn Roller

The Buckthorn Roller (Ancylis unculana) is a species in the genus Ancylis. It is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.