African elephant vs South Asian applesnail

Loxodonta africana compared with Pila ampullacea

Key Differences

• African elephant is Vulnerable while South Asian applesnail is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African elephant	South Asian applesnail
Kingdom same	Animalia (สัตว์)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Mollusca (มอลลัสกา)
Class	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)	Gastropoda (ชั้นแกสโทรโพดา)
Order	Proboscidea (อันดับช้าง)	Architaenioglossa (Architaenioglossa)
Family	Elephantidae (Elephants)	Ampullariidae
Genus	Loxodonta (African Elephants)	Pila
Species	Loxodonta africana	Pila ampullacea

Evolutionary Relationship

African elephant and South Asian applesnail share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (สัตว์)

Conservation Status

African elephant

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~415.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

South Asian applesnail

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African elephant	South Asian applesnail
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.

South Asian applesnail

Habitat

Typically found in terrestrial and aquatic habitats including forests and freshwater.

Range

Found in Norway.

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.