Elephant | Description, Habitat, Scientific Names, Weight, & Facts

Elephants are the largest land animals in the world. The African elephant is found on the African continent and the Indian elephant is found in Asia. Elephants are mammals as well as herbivores, meaning they only eat plants, not meat.

Types of Elephants

There are two main types of elephants: African elephants and Indian elephants.

African Elephant – The African elephant is larger than the Indian elephant. He also has bigger ears. Both males and females have tusks. African elephants have gray, wrinkled skin, a sloping back, and two spikes at the end of their trunk that can be used as fingers to pick up objects.

Indian Elephant – Indian or Asian elephants are smaller than African elephants and have smaller ears. They have a more hunched back and a fingertip at the end of the proboscis. In addition, their skin tends to be less wrinkled than that of African elephants.

Just how big are they?

Elephants are truly giant animals. They can grow up to 11 feet tall and weigh up to 13,000 pounds. The tallest elephant ever was 13 feet tall and weighed 24,000 pounds! Elephants’ appetites are as big as their size. They can eat up to 400 pounds and drink up to 30 gallons of water a day.

What do Elephants look like?

Elephants have many interesting features, including huge ears, long tusks, and giant trunks. Elephants flap their giant ears to cool off. Their tusks can be up to 10 feet long. Elephants use their tusks to dig or scratch tree bark. Sometimes they use them to fight. Their defenses continue to grow throughout their lives.

The Trunk of Elephants

An elephant’s trunk is its most versatile appendage. Elephants use their long trunks to pick up food as small as a blade of grass, but also to chop branches for food. Elephants also use their trunks to drink, smell, and suck in water to spray themselves when bathing.

Are Elephants smart?

Elephants are considered very intelligent. They have very sophisticated social structures and modes of communication. They are also very adept with tools and can be trained for any type of task. Perhaps there is some truth in the saying that “an elephant never forgets”.

Baby Elephants

A baby elephant is called a calf. Like all mammals, infants are breastfed. They are hairy and usually two to three feet tall.

Are Elephants endangered?

Due to their size and precious tusks, elephants have long been a favorite target of great hunters. Over-hunting has caused elephant populations to decline rapidly. Elephants are now a protected species worldwide.

Interesting Facts About Elephants

The skin of an elephant can be up to an inch thick, but it is also very sensitive.

The largest elephant ever weighed 24,000 pounds and was 13 feet tall. They can hear each other’s calls up to 5 miles away.

Male elephants or bulls live alone as they mature. However, females, or cows, live in tight family groups led by the oldest female, known as matriarchal.

They have poor eyesight, but excellent hearing and smell.

Contrary to popular belief, elephants don’t really like peanuts.

They will throw sand and dirt on their backs to avoid sunburn.

An elephant is smart enough to recognize itself in a mirror.