ELEPHANT (FACTS)

ELEPHANTS (FACTS) 

Elephants are the largest living terrestrial mammal in the World; they belong to the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea. There are two species of elephants worldwide, the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), although some evidence suggests that African Savannah Elephants (L. africana ) and African Forest Elephants (L. cyclotis  ) are separate species .

Weight: African elephant weighs 4,000 to7, 000 kg while Asian elephant weighs 3,000 to 5,000 kg

Height: The height of African elephant varies from 3m to 4 m (10–13 ft) while that of Asian elephants stand 2–3.5 m (7–11 ft)

Size: In both cases, males are larger than females. Among African elephants, the Forest elephant is smaller than the Savannah elephant.

Vision: The animal's field of vision is compromised by the location and limited mobility of the eyes. Elephants are considered dichromats and they can see well in dim light but not in bright light.

Temperature regulation: The core body temperature averages 35.9 °C (97 °F), similar to a human. Like all mammals, an elephant can raise or lower its temperature a few degrees from the average in response to extreme environmental conditions.

Sense of smell (Olfactory): The animal's sense of smell may be four times as sensitive as that of a bloodhound.

Life span

Elephants can live up to 70 years in the wild.

Communication

They communicate by touch, sight, smell, and sound; elephants use infra sound, and  seismic communication over long distances.

Skeletal system: The skeleton of the elephant is made up of 326–351 bones. The vertebrae are connected by tight joints, which limit the backbone's flexibility. African elephants have 21 pairs of ribs while Asian elephants have 19 or 20 pairs. An elephant's skull is resilient enough to withstand the forces generated by the leverage of the tusks and head-to-head collisions. The back of the skull is flattened and spread out, creating arches that protect the brain in every direction. The skull contains air cavities   (sinuses) that reduce the weight of the skull while maintaining overall strength. These cavities give the inside of the skull a honeycomb-like appearance. The cranium is particularly large and provides enough room for the attachment of muscles to support the entire head. The lower jaw is solid and heavy. Because of the size of the head, the neck is relatively short to provide better support.

Habitats

Elephants are herbivorous and can be found in different habitats including savanna's, forests, deserts, and marshes. They prefer to stay near water. Elephants interact strongly with the ecosystems they inhabit (Kerley et al.,2008) this may be due to their large size and high home ranging, They are savanna key stone species, This means that many other species benefits depending on the presence of elephants. Other animals tend to keep their distance from elephants while predators, such as lions, tigers, hyenas, and wild dogs, usually target only young elephants (or "calves").

Importance

Elephants are used as working animals in Asia. In the past, they were used in war; today, they are often controversially put on display in zoos,  or exploited for entertainment in circuses, their tusks are used for making ornaments. Elephants are highly recognizable and have been featured in art, folklore, religion, literature, and popular culture.

Conservation status 

African elephants are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) while the Asian elephant is classed as endangered. One of the biggest threats to elephant populations is the ivory trade, as the animals are poached for their ivory tusks. Other threats to wild elephants include habitat destruction and conflicts with local people.

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