The truth is that elephants are endangered as a consequence of human action as one of the main threats to elephants is illegal hunting. Many people are often confused as to how such a large animal can be in danger of extinction. Their preferred habitat is areas with dense rainforest cover. At birth an elephant has two or three pairs of cheek teeth in each jaw. The trunk, or proboscis, of the elephant is one of the most versatile organs to have evolved among mammals. The trunk is innervated by two proboscidean nerves, which render it extremely sensitive. The common belief that there existed “pygmy” and “water” elephants has no basis; they are probably varieties of the African forest elephants. In the African elephant both the male and the female possess tusks, whereas in the Asian elephant it is mainly the male that has tusks. It has slender, downward-pointing tusks. Elephants have proven to be more intelligent than most animals in the wild, and they mourn the death of fellow elephants. If you want to read similar articles to Where Do Elephants Live?, we recommend you visit our Facts about the animal kingdom category. The African forest elephant, which is the smallest living species of elephant, reside mainly in forests. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. They, like elephants, have thick gray skin and can weigh up to a ton. The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) weighs about 5,500 kg and has a shoulder height of up to 3.5 metres. If danger is suspected, elephants raise and swivel the trunk as if it were “an olfactory periscope,” possibly sniffing the air for information. Author of numerous scientific and popular publications on elephants and other proboscideans. Asian elephants are distributed in several countries over the relevant continent, such as Sri Lanka and Sumatra: hence their given names. African savanna elephants typically live in larger family groups than either of the two other elephant species (African Forest and Asian), and they are more often found in large aggregations. They prefer to live in areas covered with tropical forest, where it is easier for them to camouflage themselves within the surrounding vegetation. Some male Asian elephants are tuskless and are known as muknas. At the beginning of the 21st century, fewer than 50,000 Asian elephants remained in the wild. They are found throughout southeast Asia, including countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, China, Laos, parts of Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Within the trunk is an extremely complex network of radiating and transverse muscle fascicles that provide fine movement. Another subspecies of the Asian elephant is the Sumatran elephant native to Sumatra. Habitat and Distribution, Where do Leopards Live? Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Tusk size and shape are inherited. An adult elephant needs to consume a large amount of food daily in order to survive. Elephants are the largest living land animals, characterized by their long trunk (elongated upper lip and nose), columnar legs, ivory tusks, and huge head with wide flat ears. Several elephants are living within the Namib and Sahara deserts. Click to attach a photo related to your comment. These amounts can be double for a hungry and thirsty individual. By Benjamin Elisha Sawe on July 26 2018 in World Facts. Botswana has more African bush elephants than any other nation with a population of 118,736 elephants. The African forest elephant, recognized as a separate species in 2000, is smaller than the savanna elephant. In addition to sound production, the pharyngeal pouch is presumed to be used for carrying water. Poachers are therefore predominantly responsible for elephant assassination, as they kill these animals in the name of money driven profit. Adult elephants can ingest up to 200 kilograms of plant, daily. Elephants can produce a variety of other sounds by beating the trunk on hard ground, a tree, or even against their own tusks. The trunk is also used to collect dust or grass for spraying onto themselves, presumably for protection against insect bites and the sun. The African bush elephants cover long distances within their habitats in search of food as they consume nearly 496 lbs of vegetation daily. As it would be difficult to suck liquid from the stomach while running, the most likely explanation for the liquid’s source is the pharyngeal pouch. Significant populations of African forest elephants are also found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, and Cameroon. There are three subspecies of Asian elephant: the Indian (or mainland), the Sumatran, and the Sri Lankan. The population in several countries such as Kenya is falling rapidly due to poaching and habitat loss. When elephants meet, one may touch the face of the other, or they will intertwine trunks. Elephants are large distinct mammals found naturally in Africa and Asia. Elephant seals first inhabited the colder areas of North America, specifically, the surrounding Alaskan waters. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. Diet of the Indian elephant Terrestrial elephants, such as the African and Asian elephant, are herbivores. Elephants are among the largest animals in the world. They are considered to be keystone species, due to their impact on their environments. The African savanna, or bush, elephant (Loxodonta africana) weighs up to 8,000 kg (9 tons) and stands 3 to 4 metres (10 to 13 feet) at the shoulder. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. These species measure up to 3 meters in height, weighing up to 5 tons. Unethical hunting also comes in the form of excursions; where the only objective is to hunt elephants for ‘fun’ or, as a sport. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Elephants are grayish to brown in colour, and their body hair is sparse and coarse. Elephants are one of the top 10 largest animals in the world. Due to this destruction, we (humans) force elephants to migrate un-instinctively. European Countries That Are Not Members Of The European Union, The US States Most Prone To Natural Disasters, The Largest Football (Soccer) Stadiums In The World. Only the last four molars or their remains are present after about 60 years of age. Low sounds are the growl, rolling growl, snort, and roar; high sounds are the trump, trumpet, pulsated trumpet, trumpet phrase, bark, gruff cry, and cry. The African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), which lives in rainforests, was recognized as a separate species in 2000 and is smaller than the savanna elephant. Tall, heavy, majestic and with huge ears, these animals carry imposing horns and it proves difficult for them to go unnoticed. Take a look at these amazing elephants facts; There are two species of African elephants: the African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis). Elephants are herbivores: they eat a range of plants, including grasses, fruit, and roots. This species has been dubbed with its ‘‘elephant’’ name, due to its appearance.
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