African elephant vs broad-leaved cottongrass

Loxodonta africana compared with Eriophorum latifolium

Key Differences

  • African elephant is Vulnerable while broad-leaved cottongrass is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank African elephant broad-leaved cottongrass
Kingdom Animalia (Animals) Plantae (plantas)
Phylum Chordata (cordados) Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class Mammalia (mamíferos) Liliopsida (Monocots)
Order Proboscidea (Elephants) Poales (Grasses)
Family Elephantidae (Elephants) Cyperaceae
Genus Loxodonta (African Elephants) Eriophorum
Species Loxodonta africana Eriophorum latifolium

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

broad-leaved cottongrass

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute African elephant broad-leaved cottongrass
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.

broad-leaved cottongrass

Habitat

Typically found in grasslands, wetlands, forests, and cultivated landscapes.

Range

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

African elephant

O elefante africano, o maior animal terrestre da Terra, pode atingir 7.000 kg e habita savanas, florestas e zonas húmidas da África subsaariana. Com estruturas sociais complexas lideradas por matriarcas, comunica através de infrassons, rugidos e contacto físico. Como engenheiro do ecossistema, modela o habitat arrancando árvores, escavando poços de água e dispersando sementes. Está classificado como Vulnerável (VU), com populações em declínio devido à caça furtiva de marfim e à perda de habitat.

broad-leaved cottongrass

The Broad-Leaved Cottongrass (Eriophorum latifolium) is a species in the genus Eriophorum. It is currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in grasslands, wetlands, forests, and cultivated landscapes.

Nature FYI Family

Explore more of the natural world across our sister sites.

Part of the Nature FYI family — FYIPedia