The African bush elephant and the giraffe are two of the most recognizable giants of the terrestrial animal kingdom. The elephant’s massive bulk often overshadows the giraffe’s height advantage, leading to the common misconception that the elephant is the larger of the two. A factual comparison of their respective heights and dimensions clarifies this difference in stature.
The Definitive Height Comparison
The giraffe is the tallest living land animal, surpassing the African bush elephant by a significant margin. An average adult giraffe stands between 14 and 19 feet (4.2 to 5.8 meters) tall, with some males reaching up to 20 feet (6 meters) to the top of their ossicones. This extraordinary height is a direct result of its extremely long neck and legs.
In contrast, the African bush elephant is the largest land mammal by mass but is considerably shorter in height. Adult bull elephants average a shoulder height between 10 and 13 feet (3.04 to 4 meters). The maximum recorded shoulder height for an elephant is approximately 13 feet (3.96 meters). The giraffe is typically taller by roughly five feet on average.
Anatomy and Measurement Standards
The standard zoological measurement for the elephant is taken at the shoulder, or the withers, which is the highest fixed point on its body. This standard is used because the elephant’s massive, short neck and head do not extend significantly above the shoulder height.
The giraffe, however, is measured to the highest point it can naturally reach, which is the top of its head or ossicones. A giraffe’s neck can account for up to 8 feet of its total height. Measuring the giraffe only at the shoulder would inaccurately represent its functional maximum height, while its towering neck ensures its dominance in the vertical dimension.
Weight and Overall Body Size
While the giraffe wins the height competition, the elephant is the champion of overall body size and mass. The African bush elephant is the heaviest land animal, with adult males averaging a weight between 5.2 and 6.9 tons (5,200 to 6,900 kilograms). Exceptional individuals can weigh over 10 tons (9,000 kilograms).
The giraffe’s height is achieved through a slender, lightweight frame. An adult giraffe typically weighs between 1,750 and 2,800 pounds (800 to 1,270 kilograms), with the largest bulls reaching a maximum of around 3,500 pounds (1,587 kilograms). The elephant is often four to five times heavier than the giraffe.