What Are Elephants

Elephants are large land animals divided into two groups: the African elephant and the Asian elephant. African elephant belong to the genus loxodonta. They are different from their counterparts in several ways. The common one is their large ears. They are also typically larger and have concave shaped back. However they have been reclassified into two distinct subspecies namely: Savanna [Loxodonta Africana Africana] and Forest [loxodonta Africana cylotis]elephants. The two can interbreed but this is hampered by their preferences for different terrains. The Forest subspecies is a bit smaller and rounder in shape and has thinner and straighter tusks compared to the Savanna one.

Elephants especially Savannas can weigh up to four to seven tonnes and are three to four metres tall compare with the other who weigh around two to four tonnes and are around three metres tall. Both groups have tusks in males and female species. In the Asian species only males have tusks. The females have tushes white are figured to be their second incisors and just stick out beyond the upper lip. The Asian’s known as Indian Elephants are smaller than the African and smaller ears. Their population is estimated to be around 60,000, about a tenth of the numbers of the ones from Africa.

Elephants from Asia have also been decreasing gradually than those from Africa a factor attributed to human encroachment of their habitats and poaching. The Asian’s also have subspecies like Elephas maximus maximu [Sri Lankan Elephant] which are the largest of Asians weighing around three to five tonnes and two to three metres in height.This type has large areas of color pigmentation than the others. There is also the Elpas maximus sumatranus [Sumatran], very light grey in colur and weighing three to four tonnes and are two to two point five metres in height. Another type is the Elphas maximus Indicus [Indian] which weighs two to four point five tonnes are two to three metres tall. It’s lighter grey in color.