Elephants are the largest and second tallest land animals. They are fully grown in 25 years but may live up to 65 years. That is for both the African and Asian Elephant.
The African Elephant is bigger than the Asian Elephant, it is 2-4 metres tall and weighs up to 7500 kilograms. The Asian Elephant has smaller ears whose upper edge is curled forward and as opposed to the African Elephant, only the male has tusks. An elephant’s skin is 2-4 centimetres thick grey and quite sensitive. It also has deep wrinkles in it which assist in cooling the elephant. Its 1.5 metre long ivory tusks are virtually teeth. They are continually growing, weigh up to 45kg and are used for digging, fighting, feeding and lifting stuff.
Elephants have small brown eyes protected by long eyelashes. They are also colour blind and have limited vision in strong light. Elephant’s ears are unique just like our fingerprints and are also used for cooling as elephants have the ability to flap them. An elephant’s trunk is really its nose and is its most important sense. With it an elephant breathes, picks up food, sucks up liquid and most importantly smells.
Elephants eat grass, leaves, roots, oats, hay, potatoes and occasionally meat.
Elephants sleep only two-four hours a day and can sleep lying down or standing. They communicate either by trumpeting, bellowing, crying or snorting or they touch each other or move parts of their bodies for example: they touch trunks and if there is danger they flap their ears and the herd gathers. Elephants live in groups also called herds and all family members protect the young. An impressing fact is that elephants swim well. They actually swim underwater and use their trunk as a snorkel.
Elephant’s habitat is in
Africa,
India and southern
Asia. They live in the desert, tropical forest and even mountains. They are endangered due to the fact that their habitat is being destroyed.
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