Éléphant de savane vs Prêle des champs

Loxodonta africana compared with Equisetum arvense

Key Differences

Éléphant de savane is Vulnerable while Prêle des champs is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Éléphant de savane	Prêle des champs
Kingdom	Animalia (animal)	Plantae (plante)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Tracheophyta
Class	Mammalia (mammifères)	Polypodiopsida (Filicopsida)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Equisetales (Equisetales)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Equisetaceae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Equisetum
Species	Loxodonta africana	Equisetum arvense

Conservation Status

Éléphant de savane

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Prêle des champs

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Éléphant de savane	Prêle des champs
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.

Prêle des champs

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, and temperate coniferous forests, among 5 distinct biome types spanning the Afrotropic and Palearctic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Mauritius), Asia (Iran, Taiwan), Europe (9 countries), North America (Canada, Mexico, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia, New Zealand), and South America (Brazil).

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.

Prêle des champs

The Common Field Horsetail (<em>Equisetum arvense</em>) is a vascular plant belonging to the genus Equisetum within the family Equisetaceae. It is one of the most widespread and recognisable of the horsetail species, characterised by its jointed, hollow stems and whorls of slender branches. The species is found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, and temperate coniferous forests, spanning the Afrotropic and Palearctic biogeographic realms. Its geographic distribution is exceptionally broad, encompassing Africa including Mauritius, Asia including Iran and Taiwan, nine European countries, North America including Canada, Mexico, and the United States, Oceania including Australia and New Zealand, and South America including Brazil. <em>Equisetum arvense</em> is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The plant often colonises disturbed soils and is considered a persistent weed in agricultural settings. Biological traits beyond its distinctive morphology remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.