AFRICAN ELEPHANT

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Physical Description

The two subspecies are African Savanna and African forest elephants

Savanna elephants are larger than forest elephants, and their tusks curve outwards.

 In addition to being smaller, forest elephants are darker and their tusks are straighter and downward pointing.

There are also differences in the size and shape of the skull and skeleton between the 2 subspecies.

The trunk, an extension of the upper lip and nose, is used for communication and handling objects including food.

 African elephants have 2 opposing extensions at its end, in contrast to the Asian elephant which only has one.

Tusks, which are large modified incisors that grow throughout an elephant’s lifetime, occur in both males and females and are used in fights and for marking, feeding, and digging.

The other notable feature of this species are their very large ears which allow them to radiate excess heat.
 

Characteristics

Length :  4-5 meters ( 13- 16 feet)

Tail Length : 1.0 – 1.5 meters ( 3.25 – 5.0 feet )

Weight : 4-7 tons

Height : 3.96 meters ( 13.0 feet )

Range : They live in sub-Saharan Africa, although their range is now broken into patches.

Small numbers of forest elephants live in dense equatorial forests of Central Africa from Zaire west to Mauritania

Habitat : woodlands and savannas

Diet : leaves, fruit, and bark

Status : Endangered

Reason for the status : hunting, deforestation, and poaching

Gestation Period – 22 months

Lifespan – 50 to 70 years