African elephant vs fen raft spider

Loxodonta africana compared with Dolomedes plantarius

Key Differences

• African elephant is Vulnerable while fen raft spider is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	fen raft spider
Kingdom same	Animalia (สัตว์)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Arthropoda (สัตว์ขาปล้อง)
Class	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)	Arachnida (แมง)
Order	Proboscidea (อันดับช้าง)	Araneae (แมงมุม)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Pisauridae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Dolomedes
Species	Loxodonta africana	Dolomedes plantarius

Evolutionary Relationship

African elephant and fen raft spider share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (สัตว์)

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

fen raft spider

DD — Data Deficient

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	fen raft spider
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.

fen raft spider

Habitat

Typically found in terrestrial habitats from forests to deserts.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

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.