Éléphant de savane vs pélican blanc

Loxodonta africana compared with Pelecanus onocrotalus

Key Differences

• Éléphant de savane is Vulnerable while pélican blanc is Not Evaluated.
• Éléphant de savane is herbivore while pélican blanc is carnivore.
• Éléphant de savane is 600.0x heavier than pélican blanc.
• Éléphant de savane lives longer (65 years vs 30 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Éléphant de savane	pélican blanc
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (mammifères)	Aves (oiseau)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Pelecaniformes (Pelecaniformes)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Pelecanidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Pelecanus
Species	Loxodonta africana	Pelecanus onocrotalus

Evolutionary Relationship

Éléphant de savane and pélican blanc share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Éléphant de savane

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

pélican blanc

NE — Not Evaluated

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Éléphant de savane	pélican blanc
Diet	Herbivore	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	65 years	30 years
Average Length	6.0 m	1.6 m
Average Weight	6.0 t	10.0 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.

pélican blanc

Habitat

Typically found in diverse ecosystems where prey species are available.

Range

Found across Europe (9 countries).

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.

pélican blanc

One of the world's largest pelicans, great white pelicans have wingspans reaching 3.6 meters and inhabit shallow lakes and wetlands across Europe, Africa, and Asia. Social birds breeding in large colonies and foraging cooperatively — groups of pelicans corral fish into shallow water before scooping them in their expandable throat pouches. Their pouches can hold up to 13 liters of water. Listed as Least Concern globally with stable populations.