African elephant vs Northern Shoveler

Loxodonta africana compared with Spatula clypeata

Key Differences

• African elephant is Vulnerable while Northern Shoveler is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	Northern Shoveler
Kingdom same	Animalia (สัตว์)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum same	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)	Aves (นก)
Order	Proboscidea (อันดับช้าง)	Anseriformes (อันดับห่าน)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Anatidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Spatula
Species	Loxodonta africana	Spatula clypeata

Evolutionary Relationship

African elephant and Northern Shoveler share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Northern Shoveler

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	Northern Shoveler
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.

Northern Shoveler

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (4 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Colombia, Venezuela). 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.

Northern Shoveler

Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List. Close to qualifying as threatened, with populations that may become vulnerable without conservation action.