Éléphant de savane vs Marley’s Golden Mole

Loxodonta africana compared with Amblysomus marleyi

Key Differences

• Éléphant de savane is Vulnerable while Marley’s Golden Mole is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Éléphant de savane	Marley’s Golden Mole
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (mammifères)	Mammalia (mammifères)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Afrosoricida (Afrosoricida)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Chrysochloridae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Amblysomus
Species	Loxodonta africana	Amblysomus marleyi

Evolutionary Relationship

Éléphant de savane and Marley’s Golden Mole share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (mammifères)

Conservation Status

Éléphant de savane

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Marley’s Golden Mole

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Éléphant de savane	Marley’s Golden Mole
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.

Marley’s Golden Mole

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

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.