Éléphant de savane vs croix de Malte

Loxodonta africana compared with Centaurea melitensis

Key Differences

• Éléphant de savane is Vulnerable while croix de Malte is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Éléphant de savane	croix de Malte
Kingdom	Animalia (animal)	Plantae (plante)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Mammalia (mammifères)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Asterales (Daisies & Sunflowers)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Asteraceae (Daisy Family)
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Centaurea
Species	Loxodonta africana	Centaurea melitensis

Conservation Status

Éléphant de savane

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

croix de Malte

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Éléphant de savane	croix de Malte
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.

croix de Malte

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (South Africa, Zimbabwe), Asia (India, Japan), Europe (12 countries), North America (Canada, Mexico, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (6 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.