African elephant vs Balsam Cottonwood

Loxodonta africana compared with Populus trichocarpa

Key Differences

• African elephant is Vulnerable while Balsam Cottonwood is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	Balsam Cottonwood
Kingdom	Animalia (животные)	Plantae (растения)
Phylum	Chordata (хордовые)	Magnoliophyta (магнолиофиты)
Class	Mammalia (млекопитающие)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Proboscidea (хоботные)	Malpighiales (мальпигиецветные)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Salicaceae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Populus
Species	Loxodonta africana	Populus trichocarpa

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Balsam Cottonwood

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	Balsam Cottonwood
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.

Balsam Cottonwood

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Found across Europe (12 countries).

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.

Balsam Cottonwood

The Balsam Cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) is a species in the genus Populus. Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions. Like other members of its genus, this species plays a role in its native ecosystem.