African elephant vs large tortoiseshell

Loxodonta africana compared with Nymphalis polychloros

Key Differences

  • African elephant is Vulnerable while large tortoiseshell is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank African elephant large tortoiseshell
Kingdom same Animalia (動物) Animalia (動物)
Phylum Chordata (脊索動物) Arthropoda (節足動物)
Class Mammalia (哺乳類) Insecta (昆虫)
Order Proboscidea (ゾウ目) Lepidoptera (チョウ目)
Family Elephantidae (Elephants) Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus Loxodonta (African Elephants) Nymphalis
Species Loxodonta africana Nymphalis polychloros

Evolutionary Relationship

African elephant and large tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (動物)

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

large tortoiseshell

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute African elephant large tortoiseshell
Diet Herbivore
Average Lifespan 65 years
Average Length 6.0 m
Average Weight 6.0 t

Habitat & Geographic Range

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.

large tortoiseshell

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 9 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found across Europe (39 countries). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

African elephant

地球上最大の陸上動物であるアフリカゾウは体重7,000 kgに達し、サハラ以南のサバンナ、森林、湿地に生息する。成熟した雌が群れを率いる高度に知的な社会構造を持ち、超低周波音やうなり声、接触によって意思疎通する。木を引き倒したり水飲み場を掘ったり種子を散布したりすることで生態系を形成するエンジニア種だが、象牙の密猟や生息地の喪失により個体数は減少しており、危急(VU)とされている。

large tortoiseshell

オオキタテハ(Nymphalis polychloros)はIUCNレッドリストで絶滅危惧IA類(CR)に分類されている。深刻な個体数の減少と生息地の喪失により、野生での絶滅リスクが極めて高い状況にある。

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