Living BeingsCompare species
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
African Savanna Elephant
Loxodonta africana
How to compare two organisms
Choose two species and trace their closest shared group. Then compare a trait with the same definition on each side. Check the units, life stage and context before interpreting a measurement or range.
Missing data means that the collection lacks a sourced value. Where a characteristic does not apply to a lineage, the comparison labels it separately. Open the two profiles for context and follow their sources before drawing a conclusion.
Evidence from the profiles
Compare their characteristics
| Trait | Bald Eagle | African Savanna Elephant |
|---|---|---|
| Physical traits | Adults have a white head and tail contrasting with a brown body and a large yellow bill. Young birds are mottled and acquire the familiar adult pattern gradually. | Broad ears, a long trunk and column-like legs give the animal its familiar outline. The trunk tip has two finger-like projections. Both sexes can develop tusks. |
| Habitat and range | Lakes, rivers, reservoirs and coasts provide food, while suitable large trees offer nesting and resting sites. | Savannas and open woodland provide a shifting mixture of browse, grass, shade and drinking water. Seasonal water availability influences the places that herds use. |
| Diet and nutrition | Fish are important, but the bird also takes other animals and carrion. Food may be caught directly, found dead or taken from another bird. | Grasses, leaves, bark and other plant material make up its diet. The trunk gathers food and moves it to the mouth. |
| Behavior and activity | Powerful flight and keen vision help eagles locate food over broad areas. The same bird can alternate between hunting and scavenging. | Female relatives and their young form long-lasting social groups. Older females hold knowledge of familiar routes and resources; adult males have a different pattern of association. |
| Reproduction and life cycle | Large stick nests are built and reused. Both adults participate in caring for the young. | Calves are born alive and depend on milk and extended social care. Learning from other elephants is an important part of growing up. |
| Geographic distribution | Native to North America. Seasonal movements vary with access to open water and dependable food. | Native to sub-Saharan Africa. This account follows the savanna-elephant species concept rather than treating all African elephants as one species. |
| Ecological role | As a predator and scavenger, the bald eagle draws on several parts of aquatic and shoreline food webs. | Feeding and movement alter vegetation, and dung transfers seeds and nutrients. Habitat fragmentation and killing for ivory threaten populations. |
Classification
Shared ancestry
Closest shared taxon: Amniota.