AFRICAN ELEPHANT
(Loxodonta africana)
Habitat and range-
The African Elephants range is patchy throughout Africa. They all live south of the Sahara Desert in small groups throughout central, southern and eastern Africa. The habitat ranges from the grassy savannahs of east Africa into the forests of central Africa. There is a smaller sub-species of African Elephant, the Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), which inhabits the dense forests of central Africa. The Bush Elephant is much more common in Africa. The Small groups of Forest Elephants live in the equatorial forests of Zaire west to Mauritania, while Bush Elephants are far more widespread in drier woodlands and savannah. The Bush Elephant ranges through forest fringes and even up to snow the snow line.
Size and Appearance-
Female elephants or cows can reach a height of 9-10 ft tall at the shoulder and weigh 8000-10000 lbs. Male elephants or bulls can get 10-12 ft tall and weigh 10000-12000 lbs. The skin can be up to 1.5” thick to protect from the sun and bug bites. Elephants also habitually cover themselves with dirt to protect from the sun.
Diet -
Elephants will spend 16-18 hours a day foraging. An adult elephant needs at least 300 pounds of vegetation a day. Their diet consists of grasses, tree limbs, tubers, fruits, vines and shrubs. The digestive system is designed for huge amounts of bulk, of which 40-50% is digested and used. The Elephant will also consume soils to get their minerals and to help detoxify some of the plants they eat.
Behavior-
African elephants have a matriarchal society, they live in herds of related females and their young. Males will stay with the herds until adolescence and then leave to find groups the same age. Once adulthood is reached the males will approach a herd only if a female is calling them using infrasounds to breed. This may happen throughout the year, once breeding has occurred they part ways. After 22 months of gestation a 225 pound 3 ft tall baby is born. The baby will drink milk from its mother for up to 5 years, but will take solid food as early as 6 months.
Elephants have the largest brain of any ungulate, this makes them very intelligent and capable of learning and many emotions. Elephants recognize the arrival of a new baby by rubbing the new mother and baby with their trunks. They will also mourn the loss of a herd member and circle around the carcass for long periods of time. They can even recognize the carcass of a stranger elephant and will rub its forehead with their trunks and heads. Like apes, elephants are self aware and can recognize their own image in a mirror.
