Éléphant de savane vs Tapao Shan spruce

Loxodonta africana compared with Picea retroflexa

Key Differences

• Éléphant de savane is Vulnerable while Tapao Shan spruce is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Éléphant de savane	Tapao Shan spruce
Kingdom	Animalia (animal)	Plantae (plante)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Coniferophyta (Conifers)
Class	Mammalia (mammifères)	Pinopsida (Conifers)
Order	Proboscidea (Elephants)	Pinales (Pines & Allies)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Pinaceae (Pine Family)
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Picea
Species	Loxodonta africana	Picea retroflexa

Conservation Status

Éléphant de savane

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Tapao Shan spruce

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Éléphant de savane	Tapao Shan spruce
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.

Tapao Shan spruce

Habitat

Typically found in temperate and boreal forests, often at higher elevations.

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.