Éléphant de savane vs Chinese Plum Yew

Loxodonta africana compared with Cephalotaxus sinensis

Key Differences

• Éléphant de savane is Vulnerable while Chinese Plum Yew is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Éléphant de savane	Chinese Plum Yew
Kingdom	Animalia (animal)	Plantae (plante)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Coniferophyta (Conifers)
Class	Mammalia (mammifères)	Pinopsida (Conifers)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Pinales (Pines & Allies)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Cephalotaxaceae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Cephalotaxus
Species	Loxodonta africana	Cephalotaxus sinensis

Conservation Status

Éléphant de savane

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Chinese Plum Yew

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Éléphant de savane	Chinese Plum Yew
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.

Chinese Plum Yew

Habitat

Typically found in temperate and boreal forests, often at higher elevations.

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.

Chinese Plum Yew

The Chinese Plum Yew (Cephalotaxus sinensis) is a species in the genus Cephalotaxus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.