African elephant vs giraffe

Loxodonta africana compared with Giraffa camelopardalis

Key Differences

• African elephant is 5.0x heavier than giraffe.
• African elephant lives longer (65 years vs 25 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	giraffe
Kingdom same	Animalia (สัตว์)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum same	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class same	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)
Order	Proboscidea (อันดับช้าง)	Artiodactyla (อันดับสัตว์กีบคู่)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Giraffidae (Giraffes)
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Giraffa (Giraffes)
Species	Loxodonta africana	Giraffa camelopardalis

Evolutionary Relationship

African elephant and giraffe share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

giraffe

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~117.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	giraffe
Diet	Herbivore	Herbivore
Average Lifespan	65 years	25 years
Average Length	6.0 m	5.5 m
Average Weight	6.0 t	1.2 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.

giraffe

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 5 distinct biome types within the Neotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Ecuador. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.

giraffe

The tallest living animal on Earth, giraffes can reach 5.5 meters in height and weigh up to 1,750 kg. Their elongated necks — containing the same seven cervical vertebrae as all mammals — evolved for feeding on acacia trees in African savannas and woodlands. Social animals living in loose herds with no permanent bonds, giraffes communicate through infrasound and body language. Vulnerable, with populations declining due to habitat loss and poaching.