Éléphant de savane vs sphinx de la vigne

Loxodonta africana compared with Deilephila elpenor

Key Differences

• Éléphant de savane is Vulnerable while sphinx de la vigne is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Éléphant de savane	sphinx de la vigne
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)	Sphingidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Deilephila
Species	Loxodonta africana	Deilephila elpenor

Evolutionary Relationship

Éléphant de savane and sphinx de la vigne share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (animal)

Conservation Status

Éléphant de savane

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

sphinx de la vigne

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Éléphant de savane	sphinx de la vigne
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.

sphinx de la vigne

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (4 countries), and North America (Canada).

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.