Éléphant de savane vs Chimpanzé

Loxodonta africana compared with Pan troglodytes

Key Differences

• Éléphant de savane is Vulnerable while Chimpanzé is Endangered.
• Éléphant de savane is herbivore while Chimpanzé is omnivore.
• Éléphant de savane is 120.0x heavier than Chimpanzé.
• Éléphant de savane lives longer (65 years vs 45 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Éléphant de savane	Chimpanzé
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (mammifères)	Mammalia (mammifères)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Primates (Primates)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Hominidae (Great Apes)
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Pan (Chimpanzees)
Species	Loxodonta africana	Pan troglodytes

Evolutionary Relationship

Éléphant de savane and Chimpanzé share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (mammifères)

Conservation Status

Éléphant de savane

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Chimpanzé

EN — Endangered

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Éléphant de savane	Chimpanzé
Diet	Herbivore	Omnivore
Average Lifespan	65 years	45 years
Average Length	6.0 m	1.2 m
Average Weight	6.0 t	50.0 kg

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.

Chimpanzé

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

Distributed across Cameroon, Congo (DRC), Guinea, Tanzania, and Uganda. 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.

Chimpanzé

Humanity's closest living relative, sharing approximately 98.7% of DNA, chimpanzees inhabit tropical forests and savanna woodlands across central and West Africa. Highly intelligent, social primates that use and make tools, display cultural traditions, and communicate with rich vocalizations including the distinctive pant-hoot. Endangered, with populations declining due to deforestation, bushmeat hunting, and disease transmission from humans.