African elephant vs American Storax

Loxodonta africana compared with Liquidambar styraciflua

Key Differences

• African elephant is Vulnerable while American Storax is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	American Storax
Kingdom	Animalia (สัตว์)	Plantae (พืช)
Phylum	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)	Magnoliopsida (พืชใบเลี้ยงคู่)
Order	Proboscidea (อันดับช้าง)	Saxifragales (อันดับอัสดง)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Altingiaceae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Liquidambar
Species	Loxodonta africana	Liquidambar styraciflua

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

American Storax

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	American Storax
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.

American Storax

Habitat

Inhabits Mediterranean forests and woodlands and deserts and xeric shrublands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (South Africa), Asia (4 countries), Europe (6 countries), and South America (Brazil, Colombia).

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.

American Storax

The American Storax (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a species in the genus Liquidambar. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Inhabits Mediterranean forests and woodlands and deserts and xeric shrublands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm.