Weighing 2700–6000 kg, the African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) ranks as one of the heaviest herbivore mammals (#2 of 50). Native to Africa, it lives in savannah, forest habitats and is classified as Vulnerable.
Physical Characteristics & Habitat
Size & Speed
| Metric | African Elephant | Herbivore Mammals Median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 4.4K kg | 117.3 kg | ↑ 3610% |
| Height | 290 cm | — | — |
| Top Speed | 40 km/h | 40 km/h | — 0% |
| Avg Speed | 25 km/h | — | — |
Habitat & Distribution
The African Elephant inhabits savannah, forest habitats. It can be found in Africa.
Typical coloring: Grey.
Diet & Predators
Behavior & Reproduction
Social Structure
The African Elephant is a herd-based species belonging to the Elephantidae family.
Reproduction
Conservation & Comparison
IUCN Conservation Status
VU The African Elephant is classified as Vulnerable. There are 34 species with the same status in our database.
Species Comparison
Among 50 herbivore mammals, the African Elephant’s weight of 2700–6000 kg is significantly higher than the group median of 117.3 kg.
Weight rank: #2 of 34 Vulnerable species.
| # | Species | Weight | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sperm Whale | Up to 57000 kg | VU |
| 2 | African Elephant | 2700–6000 kg | VU |
| 3 | Great White Shark | Up to 2268 kg | VU |
| 4 | Hippopotamus | 1300–3200 kg | VU |
| 5 | Gaur | 600–1300 kg | VU |
Related Species
How much does a African Elephant weigh?
A African Elephant typically weighs 2700–6000 kg, which is exceptionally high compared to the median of 117.3 kg among herbivore mammals.
What is the conservation status of the African Elephant?
The African Elephant is classified as “Vulnerable”. There are 34 species with the same status in our database.
Where does the African Elephant live?
The African Elephant is found in Africa, in savannah, forest habitats.
How does the African Elephant reproduce?
The African Elephant has a gestation period of 640–660 days and typically produces 1 offspring per birth.
Data Sources: IUCN, WWF, National Geographic, Smithsonian Institution.
Last Updated: April 10, 2026