Éléphant de savane vs swan mussel

Loxodonta africana compared with Anodonta cygnea

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Éléphant de savane	swan mussel
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Mollusca (mollusques)
Class	Mammalia (mammifères)	Bivalvia (Bivalvia)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Unionida (Unionoida)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Unionidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Anodonta
Species	Loxodonta africana	Anodonta cygnea

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Éléphant de savane

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

swan mussel

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Éléphant de savane	swan mussel
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.

swan mussel

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Ukraine. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.