25 amazing facts about elephants
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Elephant
Largest living land animal
This article is primarily about living elephants, for their close extinct relatives, see Elephantidae, for other uses, see Elephant (disambiguation)
Elephants are the largest living land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), the African forest elephant (L. cyclotis), and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). They are the only surviving members of the familyElephantidae and the orderProboscidea; extinct relatives include mammoths and mastodons. Distinctive features of elephants include a long proboscis called a trunk, tusks, large ear flaps, pillar-like legs, and tough but sensitive grey skin. The trunk is prehensile, bringing food and water to the mouth and grasping objects. Tusks, which are derived from the incisor teeth, serve both as weapons and as tools for moving objects and digging. The large ear flaps assist in maintaining a constant body temperature as well as in communication. African elephants have larger ears and concave backs, whereas Asian elephants have
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African Elephant
- Common Name:
- African elephants
- Scientific Name:
- Loxodonta
- Type:
- Mammals
- Diet:
- Herbivore
- Group Name:
- Herd
- Average Life Span In The Wild:
- Up to 70 years
- Size:
- Height at the shoulder, 8.2 to 13 feet
- Weight:
- 2.5 to seven tons
When an elephant drinks, it sucks as much as 2 gallons (7.5 liters) of water into its trunk at a time. Then it curls its trunk under, sticks the tip of its trunk into its mouth, and blows. Out comes the water, right down the elephant's throat.
Since African elephants live where the sun is usually blazing hot, they use their trunks to help them keep cool. First they squirt a trunkful of cool water over their bodies. Then they often follow that with a sprinkling of dust to create a protective layer of dirt on their skin. Elephants pick up and spray dust the same way they do water—with their trunks.
African Elephant
African elephants can live up to 70 years! Learn more amazing facts about the African elephant with National Geographic Kids.
Elephants also use their trunks as
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Shooting an Elephant
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