African elephant vs Sichuan Red-Backed Vole

Loxodonta africana compared with Eothenomys chinensis

Key Differences

• African elephant is Vulnerable while Sichuan Red-Backed Vole is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	Sichuan Red-Backed Vole
Kingdom same	Animalia (животные)	Animalia (животные)
Phylum same	Chordata (хордовые)	Chordata (хордовые)
Class same	Mammalia (млекопитающие)	Mammalia (млекопитающие)
Order	Proboscidea (хоботные)	Rodentia (грызуны)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Cricetidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Eothenomys
Species	Loxodonta africana	Eothenomys chinensis

Evolutionary Relationship

African elephant and Sichuan Red-Backed Vole share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (млекопитающие)

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Sichuan Red-Backed Vole

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	Sichuan Red-Backed Vole
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.

Sichuan Red-Backed Vole

Habitat

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.