Éléphant de savane vs lesser springsnail

Loxodonta africana compared with Bythiospeum acicula

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Éléphant de savane	lesser springsnail
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Mollusca (mollusques)
Class	Mammalia (mammifères)	Gastropoda (Gastropoda)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Littorinimorpha (Littorinimorpha)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Moitessieriidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Bythiospeum
Species	Loxodonta africana	Bythiospeum acicula

Evolutionary Relationship

Éléphant de savane and lesser springsnail share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (animal)

Conservation Status

Éléphant de savane

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

lesser springsnail

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Éléphant de savane	lesser springsnail
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.

lesser springsnail

Habitat

Typically found in terrestrial and aquatic habitats including forests and freshwater.

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.