African buffalo vs African elephant

Syncerus caffer compared with Loxodonta africana

Key Differences

African buffalo is Near Threatened while African elephant is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African buffalo	African elephant
Kingdom same	Animalia (hewan)	Animalia (hewan)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (mamalia)	Mammalia (mamalia)
Order	Artiodactyla (Hewan berkuku genap)	Proboscidea (Elephants)
Family	Bovidae (Bovids)	Elephantidae (Elephants)
Genus	Syncerus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)
Species	Syncerus caffer	Loxodonta africana

Evolutionary Relationship

African buffalo and African elephant share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (mamalia)

Lihat Class: Mammalia

Conservation Status

African buffalo

NT — Near Threatened

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African buffalo	African elephant
Diet	—	Herbivore
Average Lifespan	—	65 years
Average Length	—	6.0 m
Average Weight	—	6.0 t

Habitat & Geographic Range

African buffalo

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

African elephant

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.

African buffalo

The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a species in the genus Syncerus. It is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. This species inhabits Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

African elephant

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.