THE ELEPHANT
Fun Facts about the Elephant
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Learning more about working with the elephant by looking into topics such as Basic Facts, Taxonomy, Anatomy, Habitat, Behaviour, Diet, Ecological Benefits and Conservation
Basic Facts
Average Height |
2.7 to 3.3 m (8.8 to 10.8 feet) |
Average Running Speed |
40 km/h (25 mph) |
Average Weight |
2,700 to 6,000 kg (5952 to 13227 lbs) |
Distinguishing Features |
Prehensile trunk, long curved ivory tusks, and large ears |
Average Lifespan |
48 to 70 years in the wild |
Conservation Status |
Vulnerable |
Average Offspring |
1 |
Estimated Global Population |
400,000 in Africa 40,000 to 50,000 in Asia |
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Proboscidea
Family: Elephantidae
Genus: 2 - Loxodonta and Elephas
Species: 3 - African Bush Elephant, the Forest Elephant and the Asian Elephant
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Proboscidea
Family: Elephantidae
Genus: 2 - Loxodonta and Elephas
Species: 3 - African Bush Elephant, the Forest Elephant and the Asian Elephant
Common Name: African Bush Elephant
Scientific Name: Loxodonta africana
Type: Mammal
Diet: Herbivore
Group Name: Herd
Average life span in the wild: 60 to 70 years
Height: 3.96 metres (13.0 ft)
Weight: 6 tonnes
Mating Season: Through the year
Maturity age: 8 year (Adult), 10 years (Sexual)
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Scientific Name: Loxodonta africana
Type: Mammal
Diet: Herbivore
Group Name: Herd
Average life span in the wild: 60 to 70 years
Height: 3.96 metres (13.0 ft)
Weight: 6 tonnes
Mating Season: Through the year
Maturity age: 8 year (Adult), 10 years (Sexual)
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Common Name: Forest Elephant
Scientific Name: Loxodonta cyclotis
Type: Mammal
Diet: Herbivore
Group Name: Herd
Average life span in the wild: 60 to 70 years
Height: 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
Weight: 2.7 tonnes (5,950 lb)
Mating Season: Through the year
Maturity age: 8 year (Adult), 8 to 12 years (Sexual)
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Scientific Name: Loxodonta cyclotis
Type: Mammal
Diet: Herbivore
Group Name: Herd
Average life span in the wild: 60 to 70 years
Height: 2.5 m (8.2 ft)
Weight: 2.7 tonnes (5,950 lb)
Mating Season: Through the year
Maturity age: 8 year (Adult), 8 to 12 years (Sexual)
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Common Name: Asian Elephant
Scientific Name: Elephas maximus
Sub-species: 3 - Elephas maximus maximus from Sri Lanka, the Elephas maximus indicus from mainland Asia, and the Elephas maximus sumatranus from the island of Sumatra.
Type: Mammal
Diet: Herbivore
Group Name: Herd
Average life span in the wild: 60 to 75 years
Height: 2.75 m (9.0 ft)
Weight: 2.7 tonnes
Mating Season: Through the year
Maturity age: 17 year (Adult), 12 to 15 years (Sexual)
Conservation Status: Endangered
Scientific Name: Elephas maximus
Sub-species: 3 - Elephas maximus maximus from Sri Lanka, the Elephas maximus indicus from mainland Asia, and the Elephas maximus sumatranus from the island of Sumatra.
Type: Mammal
Diet: Herbivore
Group Name: Herd
Average life span in the wild: 60 to 75 years
Height: 2.75 m (9.0 ft)
Weight: 2.7 tonnes
Mating Season: Through the year
Maturity age: 17 year (Adult), 12 to 15 years (Sexual)
Conservation Status: Endangered
Anatomy of the Elephant
Anatomy is the different parts of an organism (animal or plant) that work together to form the organism. It's also the study of these different parts and how they interact. Knowledge of the anatomy of animals is important for many animal related careers, especially if you are following a scientific career.
Differences between the Asian and African elephants:
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ASIAN
Size: Smaller - 2.75 m (9.0 ft)
Head: Small with high forehead Ears: Small, sloping down, allowing the neck to be revealed Posture: Arched back Skin: Smooth Trunk: Has one finger at the tip |
AFRICAN
Size: Much larger - 3.96 metres (13.0 ft)
Head: Large with sloping forehead Ears: Large, normally in line with the forehead, conceals neck Posture: Rump elevated Skin: Rough and wrinkled Trunk: Has two fingers at the tip |
Body:
The body size and weight of the three different species differ, with slight differences in their build, shape and size of their trunks, tusks and ears. Starting with their skin, the average thickness is around 2.5 cm (0.9 in) with the thickest parts (about 3.5 cm or 1.3 in) on the legs, back, forehead and trunk. Elephants do not sweat, although they can loose a lot of moisture during the heat of the day. This is mainly due to the fact that they don't have sweat glands. They need to cool down by regularly drinking water, taking bathes (including in mud), and moving their ears like vans.
The skeleton of an Elephant has between 326 to 351, and the amount differs between species.The largest bone would be the skull, which is extremely strong, despite the fact that it has tiny cavities like a honeycomb. The spinal column and leg bones are formed in such a way as that the elephant's legs are always straight down, below the body, to carry all the weight.
The internal organs of the elephant are large, but proportionately not bigger in comparison with other mammals. The brain weighs about 4.5 to 5.5 kg, the heart (depending on the age) between 12 and 21 kg (12 to 46 lbs). The heart beats approximately 30 times per minute, and the body temperature averages at about 35.9 degrees Celsius (96 degree Fahrenheit). The intestines are about 19 meters (60 ft) in length .
Legs:
Elephant are the only four-legged mammals to have four forward-facing legs. All other four-legged mammals have at least one pair of knees facing backwards. But more amazing is the fact that elephants actually walk on their toes. The shape of the feet is called columnar, and there is around three to five toes on each foot, depending on species. The reason why the feet look flat is because of a large pad under the heel that spreads out, and acts as a kind of shock absorber. The pads spread out to allow for balance and also to help the elephant not to get stuck in mud.
Elephants also use their feet to "listen" to low level sounds. Elephants can detect vibrations on the ground through their sensory cells in their feet. This vibration travels to the Elephants middle ear. Furthermore Elephants can also determine from which direction the vibrations are coming from.
Ears:
The size of the ears differ among species, but they are generally used to regulate the body's temperature. The skin on the ears are very thin, and the back of the ears are laced with blood vessels and help with cooling the elephant down as the ears are fanned in the wind.
Mouth:
Although Elephants have a short jaw, they have the largest teeth of all animals. They have 26 teeth, arranged as 6 sets of molars. The sets of teeth don't last forever, and will eventually fall out when they are worn down. But the new teeth don't push up like in humans, but form at the back of the mouth and push the older teeth forward. In an Elephant's lifetime there will only be 6 replacement teeth. This means that the older Elephants without teeth eventually die of starvation.
Tusks:
Tusks are actually one set of milk teeth (the upper incisor teeth) that just keeps on growing. The average African Elephant's Tusk can reach 1.5 to 2.4 meters and may weigh in at 23 to 45 kg. The tusks are used in foraging, and in defense against predators. Scientists have discovered that Elephants can also be left or right handed by looking at the tusks. The shorter tusk will show whether the Elephant is left or right handed.
Trunk:
The Trunk is in actual fact a limb and has an estimated 100 000 muscles and tendons, and no bones at all! The trunk is in fact like an extension of the Elephants upper lip and nose, with two nostrils running all the way up the trunk. The trunk is used for foraging, holding on and lifting heavy objects, smelling, trumpeting, drinking water and sucking up water and then pouring it into their mouths. The tip of the trunk has a small muscle that looks like a tiny finger. The African Elephants have two of these fingers, and the Asian Elephants only have one. The fingers help to grip things better, especially when the Elephant wants to reach leaves high up. The trunk is on average 140 kg (308 lbs) and can grow to about 2.3 meters (7 feet).
Tracks-Footprints:
Tracking is the identification of an animal by interpreting the signs it leaves. The most common sign an animal leaves in the wild is its trail of paw prints. The pads on the front feet are circular shaped, and those on the back feet are more elongated. A mature Elephant's foot generally measures 40 to 50 cm (15.7 to 19.6 in) in length and width.
The body size and weight of the three different species differ, with slight differences in their build, shape and size of their trunks, tusks and ears. Starting with their skin, the average thickness is around 2.5 cm (0.9 in) with the thickest parts (about 3.5 cm or 1.3 in) on the legs, back, forehead and trunk. Elephants do not sweat, although they can loose a lot of moisture during the heat of the day. This is mainly due to the fact that they don't have sweat glands. They need to cool down by regularly drinking water, taking bathes (including in mud), and moving their ears like vans.
The skeleton of an Elephant has between 326 to 351, and the amount differs between species.The largest bone would be the skull, which is extremely strong, despite the fact that it has tiny cavities like a honeycomb. The spinal column and leg bones are formed in such a way as that the elephant's legs are always straight down, below the body, to carry all the weight.
The internal organs of the elephant are large, but proportionately not bigger in comparison with other mammals. The brain weighs about 4.5 to 5.5 kg, the heart (depending on the age) between 12 and 21 kg (12 to 46 lbs). The heart beats approximately 30 times per minute, and the body temperature averages at about 35.9 degrees Celsius (96 degree Fahrenheit). The intestines are about 19 meters (60 ft) in length .
Legs:
Elephant are the only four-legged mammals to have four forward-facing legs. All other four-legged mammals have at least one pair of knees facing backwards. But more amazing is the fact that elephants actually walk on their toes. The shape of the feet is called columnar, and there is around three to five toes on each foot, depending on species. The reason why the feet look flat is because of a large pad under the heel that spreads out, and acts as a kind of shock absorber. The pads spread out to allow for balance and also to help the elephant not to get stuck in mud.
Elephants also use their feet to "listen" to low level sounds. Elephants can detect vibrations on the ground through their sensory cells in their feet. This vibration travels to the Elephants middle ear. Furthermore Elephants can also determine from which direction the vibrations are coming from.
Ears:
The size of the ears differ among species, but they are generally used to regulate the body's temperature. The skin on the ears are very thin, and the back of the ears are laced with blood vessels and help with cooling the elephant down as the ears are fanned in the wind.
Mouth:
Although Elephants have a short jaw, they have the largest teeth of all animals. They have 26 teeth, arranged as 6 sets of molars. The sets of teeth don't last forever, and will eventually fall out when they are worn down. But the new teeth don't push up like in humans, but form at the back of the mouth and push the older teeth forward. In an Elephant's lifetime there will only be 6 replacement teeth. This means that the older Elephants without teeth eventually die of starvation.
Tusks:
Tusks are actually one set of milk teeth (the upper incisor teeth) that just keeps on growing. The average African Elephant's Tusk can reach 1.5 to 2.4 meters and may weigh in at 23 to 45 kg. The tusks are used in foraging, and in defense against predators. Scientists have discovered that Elephants can also be left or right handed by looking at the tusks. The shorter tusk will show whether the Elephant is left or right handed.
Trunk:
The Trunk is in actual fact a limb and has an estimated 100 000 muscles and tendons, and no bones at all! The trunk is in fact like an extension of the Elephants upper lip and nose, with two nostrils running all the way up the trunk. The trunk is used for foraging, holding on and lifting heavy objects, smelling, trumpeting, drinking water and sucking up water and then pouring it into their mouths. The tip of the trunk has a small muscle that looks like a tiny finger. The African Elephants have two of these fingers, and the Asian Elephants only have one. The fingers help to grip things better, especially when the Elephant wants to reach leaves high up. The trunk is on average 140 kg (308 lbs) and can grow to about 2.3 meters (7 feet).
Tracks-Footprints:
Tracking is the identification of an animal by interpreting the signs it leaves. The most common sign an animal leaves in the wild is its trail of paw prints. The pads on the front feet are circular shaped, and those on the back feet are more elongated. A mature Elephant's foot generally measures 40 to 50 cm (15.7 to 19.6 in) in length and width.
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* Note to Contributors:
Path Levels allow children who are interested in working with a specific species to learn more than the usual basic info. It gives greater insight into terminology and facts so that children can bridge the knowledge gap between high school and University, which is a factor in first year dropouts. If a topic has not been created/linked yet, you are still more than welcome to contribute info that you think should form a part of the Path Levels, through the feedback mechanisms at the bottom of this page.
Path Levels allow children who are interested in working with a specific species to learn more than the usual basic info. It gives greater insight into terminology and facts so that children can bridge the knowledge gap between high school and University, which is a factor in first year dropouts. If a topic has not been created/linked yet, you are still more than welcome to contribute info that you think should form a part of the Path Levels, through the feedback mechanisms at the bottom of this page.
Habitat
Habitat is the place where animals live, looking at the different countries and regions, as well as the kind of ecosystem the animals prefer to stay in. It also looks at the home range of certain animals (the area an animal prefers to move around in every day). It's important to understand where certain animals live, as it could determine which careers to follow, if you want to work hands-on with these animals.
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Distribution:
The African Bush Elephant is widely distributed across Sub-Sahara Africa, with large populations in Botswana, Kenya and South Africa. The Forest Elephant is found in an area known as the Congo Basin, which spans from the western-central African coast. The Indian Elephant is found throughout India, Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Borneo and Sumatra. Territory Range: The territory range of herds and lone bulls widely differ along the seasons, supply of food and mating, but will be on average 15 to 50 km2 (can be in the thousand during dry seasons) |
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Habitat:
The African bush elephant can be found in habitats as diverse as dry Savannah, deserts, marshes, and lake shores, and in elevations from sea level to mountain areas above the snow line. Forest elephants mainly live in equatorial forests. Asian elephants prefer areas with a mix of grasses, low woody plants, and trees, primarily inhabiting dry thorn-scrub forests to evergreen forests.
The African bush elephant can be found in habitats as diverse as dry Savannah, deserts, marshes, and lake shores, and in elevations from sea level to mountain areas above the snow line. Forest elephants mainly live in equatorial forests. Asian elephants prefer areas with a mix of grasses, low woody plants, and trees, primarily inhabiting dry thorn-scrub forests to evergreen forests.
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Behaviour
Animal Behavior is the scientific study of the ways in which animals interact with each other, with other living beings, and with the environment. The knowledge of the behaviour of the species you want to work with is important. Knowledge of animal behaviour forms the foundation of almost all known animal related careers.
Temperament:
Elephants are very intelligent and highly social animals. They live in herds, made up of the matriarch (the oldest female in the group), her female calves and the youngsters. Older males may be allowed in the herd, but males are normally pushed out of the herd when they are around 10 to 14 years old to find a female and start their own herds. Even after young males leave the herd to start their own families, they will always maintain contact with their siblings at water holes and feeding spots. The herd can comprise between 6 and 30 elephants.
Movement:
Elephants walk by swinging their feet like pendulums, forward and back. Their legs do not bend outwards. An Elephant walks on average 25 km (15.5 miles) per day, and herds may travel as far as 325 km (202 mi) in search of water when the local waterholes dry up. When Elephants run they never have all four feet off the ground at one time, and can run at 40 km/h (25 mph).
Communication:
Elephants are keen communicators; they will use a series of grumbles, growls, snorts, squeals and trumpets to convey messages, emotions, commands and conditions.
Reproduction:
The Elephant occupying the highest rank is the one to mate. After a gestation period of 22 months, the cow gives birth to a single calf that weighs up to 130 kg. The calf suckles for about 3 to 4 years, although solid food is introduced at around two years of age.
Elephants are very intelligent and highly social animals. They live in herds, made up of the matriarch (the oldest female in the group), her female calves and the youngsters. Older males may be allowed in the herd, but males are normally pushed out of the herd when they are around 10 to 14 years old to find a female and start their own herds. Even after young males leave the herd to start their own families, they will always maintain contact with their siblings at water holes and feeding spots. The herd can comprise between 6 and 30 elephants.
Movement:
Elephants walk by swinging their feet like pendulums, forward and back. Their legs do not bend outwards. An Elephant walks on average 25 km (15.5 miles) per day, and herds may travel as far as 325 km (202 mi) in search of water when the local waterholes dry up. When Elephants run they never have all four feet off the ground at one time, and can run at 40 km/h (25 mph).
Communication:
Elephants are keen communicators; they will use a series of grumbles, growls, snorts, squeals and trumpets to convey messages, emotions, commands and conditions.
Reproduction:
The Elephant occupying the highest rank is the one to mate. After a gestation period of 22 months, the cow gives birth to a single calf that weighs up to 130 kg. The calf suckles for about 3 to 4 years, although solid food is introduced at around two years of age.
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Diet
The different kinds of animals have different kinds of diets. What they eat, how they acquire their food, and the ways they eat are important to understand animals. Certain careers focus primarily on the dietary habits and requirements of animals, such as Nutritionists.
Food:
Elephant eat practically any vegetable matter. Leaves, grass, reeds, roots, flowers, fruits, bark and even soil if the mineral content is high. They eat about 250 kg of food and drink about 150 to 200 liters of water a day.
Feeding Methods:
Elephants may spend up to 18 hours a day moving around and eating. They mainly use their trunks to pick leaves off trees, and pull grass. Tusks are used to carve into the trunk and tear off strips of bark.
Elephant eat practically any vegetable matter. Leaves, grass, reeds, roots, flowers, fruits, bark and even soil if the mineral content is high. They eat about 250 kg of food and drink about 150 to 200 liters of water a day.
Feeding Methods:
Elephants may spend up to 18 hours a day moving around and eating. They mainly use their trunks to pick leaves off trees, and pull grass. Tusks are used to carve into the trunk and tear off strips of bark.
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Ecological Benefits
Everything in nature is there for a reason, and work together to form a balance. If one species is removed, it could create problems in the lives of others, and the ecosystem could collapse. Knowledge of the ecological advantages of each species is important as it leads to an understanding of the importance of global conservation efforts. Careers in conservation, education and scientific study focus a lot on ecological benefits.
Ecological Landscapers:
Elephants do push thorny trees down, making way for grass to grow, which helps smaller herbivores to find food. They also dig in the ground for minerals and water, which helps other animals to survive.
Seed Dispersal:
Elephants do eat different kinds of fruit and berries, and can carry the seeds around in their gut and dropped later in another area. Studies have suggested that some elephants can disperse seeds as far as 57 km.
Food Providers:
Elephants do provide food for other animals. The dung beetle and other insects thrive on elephant dung, and Elephant carcasses are food for scavengers, such as hyenas and vultures.
Elephants do push thorny trees down, making way for grass to grow, which helps smaller herbivores to find food. They also dig in the ground for minerals and water, which helps other animals to survive.
Seed Dispersal:
Elephants do eat different kinds of fruit and berries, and can carry the seeds around in their gut and dropped later in another area. Studies have suggested that some elephants can disperse seeds as far as 57 km.
Food Providers:
Elephants do provide food for other animals. The dung beetle and other insects thrive on elephant dung, and Elephant carcasses are food for scavengers, such as hyenas and vultures.
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Conservation
Conservation means to protect and care for species (whether plants or animals). It's about understanding the importance of each and every species, and wanting them to live free and healthy in their wild environment. There are many conservation related careers, spanning across education, scientific studies, animal health, law and enforcement. Most conservation careers are connected to animal organizations, such as zoos, national parks, aquariums, game parks, sanctuaries etc.
Status:
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) lists the African and Forest Elephants as Vulnerable, and the Asian Elephant as Endangered..
Threats:
Natural threats to elephants are drought and predators, such as lions. But the greatest threat to elephants are poaching for their tusks, trophy hunting and habitat destruction.
Conservation Attempts:
Zoological Care:
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) lists the African and Forest Elephants as Vulnerable, and the Asian Elephant as Endangered..
Threats:
Natural threats to elephants are drought and predators, such as lions. But the greatest threat to elephants are poaching for their tusks, trophy hunting and habitat destruction.
Conservation Attempts:
Zoological Care:
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different careers in working with the elephant
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