African elephant vs Scented Gymnadenia

Loxodonta africana compared with Gymnadenia odoratissima

Key Differences

African elephant is Vulnerable while Scented Gymnadenia is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	Scented Gymnadenia
Kingdom	Animalia (สัตว์)	Plantae (พืช)
Phylum	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)	Liliopsida (Monocots)
Order	Proboscidea (อันดับช้าง)	Asparagales (อันดับหน่อไม้ฝรั่ง)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Orchidaceae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Gymnadenia
Species	Loxodonta africana	Gymnadenia odoratissima

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Scented Gymnadenia

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	Scented Gymnadenia
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.

Scented Gymnadenia

Habitat

Typically found in grasslands, wetlands, forests, and cultivated landscapes.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, 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.