African elephant vs

Loxodonta africana compared with Microcalicium ahlneri

Key Differences

• African elephant is Vulnerable while is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant
Kingdom	Animalia (สัตว์)	Fungi (เห็ดรา)
Phylum	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
Class	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)	Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes)
Order	Proboscidea (อันดับช้าง)	Pertusariales (Pertusariales)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Microcaliciaceae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Microcalicium
Species	Loxodonta africana	Microcalicium ahlneri

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant
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.

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Norway and Sweden. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

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.

Microcalicium ahlneri is a tiny, pin-head lichen with a pale grey thallus and minute stalked apothecia characteristic of the calicioid fungi. It grows on the bark of old deciduous trees in undisturbed temperate forests of Europe. This lichen needs old-growth forest conditions and is sensitive to bark microhabitat changes from air pollution or forest management.