These elephants also choose to live in areas where water is easily accessible, for both drinking and bathing purposes. At birth an elephant has two or three pairs of cheek teeth in each jaw. For a while, both African elephant species were considered one until scientists confirmed that they are distinct and diverged at least 2 million years ago. If you want to read similar articles to Where Do Elephants Live?, we recommend you visit our Facts about the animal kingdom category. Bush elephants are classified as vulnerable as their population is at 300,000 individuals. For centuries, ivory (which forms elephant tusks) has been considered a material of great value. Elephants are scattered throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia and are found in different habitats, including savannahs, forests, deserts, and marshes. The last molars can measure nearly 40 cm (almost 16 inches) long and weigh more than 5 kg (about 11 pounds). The Indian elephant is native to the mainland regions of Asia with a total population of at least 24,000 individuals. This unique structure facilitates sound production and has voluntary muscles that allow the pouch to be used as a resonating chamber for calls emitted at frequencies below the range of human hearing. Sea elephants feed on fish, crustaceans and other types of sea animals, such as: squid, sharks and rays. Elephant tusks are enlarged incisor teeth made of ivory. But, have you ever wondered where elephants live? Breathing, drinking, and eating are all vital functions of the trunk. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Elephants are one of the top 10 largest animals in the world. Rumbling sounds initially thought to be caused by intestinal activity are now known to be produced by the voice box (larynx) and are considered to be similar to purring in cats. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. African Forest Elephant

They prefer to live in areas covered with tropical forest, where it is easier for them to camouflage themselves within the surrounding vegetation. In the African elephant both the male and the female possess tusks, whereas in the Asian elephant it is mainly the male that has tusks. Learn a little more about these magnificent mammals, their distribution, what they feed on and the main reasons which are driving them towards extinction. The trunk is also used to collect dust or grass for spraying onto themselves, presumably for protection against insect bites and the sun. The continent’s northernmost elephants are found in Sahel area of Mali. Another possible function of the pouch is heat absorption, especially from the sensitive brain area above it. Elephant, (family Elephantidae), largest living land animal, characterized by its long trunk (elongated upper lip and nose), columnar legs, and huge head with temporal glands and wide, flat ears. The elephant’s main prehistoric ancestor was the giant mammoth. Habitat and Distribution, Where do Leopards Live? Elephants are large distinct mammals found naturally in Africa and Asia. - Habitat and Distribution, Where Do Lemurs Live? African elephants range throughout the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa and the rainforests of central and West Africa. The truth is that elephants are endangered as a consequence of human action as one of the main threats to elephants is illegal hunting. Several elephants are living within the Namib and Sahara deserts. Author of numerous scientific and popular publications on elephants and other proboscideans. They are found throughout southeast Asia, including countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, China, Laos, parts of Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam. African savanna elephants typically live in larger family groups than either of the two other elephant species (African Forest and Asian), and they are more often found in large aggregations. They also protect the sensitive trunk, which is tucked between them when the elephant charges. Sometimes tooth loss is the cause of death, as it brings on starvation. Although both live in Africa, they are distributed in different areas: There is only one species of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) which is made up of three subspecies: the Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas maximus maximus), the Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) and the Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus). Adult elephants can ingest up to 200 kilograms of plant, daily. The trunk is innervated by two proboscidean nerves, which render it extremely sensitive. In addition, the sprayed liquid contains small food particles commonly found in the pharyngeal pouch, as opposed to digested food from the stomach. The Asian elephant is an endangered species of elephant that resides in Southeast Asia. Two plausible sources of the liquid are the stomach and the pharyngeal pouch. There are three subspecies of Asian elephants unique because of their location. Where do Asian elephants live? The presence of a trunk is the primary reason that elephants are classified under the order Proboscidea, and they are the only surviving family within the genus. Due to its large size, elephant seals have few predators, but at times, female and babies fall victims to sharks. Elephants are among the largest animals in the world. Elephant Species in Africa There are two species of elephants that live in Africa. However, during their breeding season, they prefer to relocate to coasts, where they are able to mate and care for the young. Two species of elephants live on the African continent, and they are the African bush elephant and the African forest elephant. A third species, the Asian elephant, resides in Southeast Asia. Please select which sections you would like to print: Corrections?

The population of African forest elephants is estimated at 100,000 individuals with a vast majority living in the forests of Gabon. Some male Asian elephants are tuskless and are known as muknas. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2020 worldatlas.com. Elephants live for a relatively long time with the oldest individual living to 86 years. Moreover, African elephants are native to 37 African countries, mainly in the south of the Sahara Desert. This structure is unique to members of the order Proboscidea, which includes the extinct mastodons and mammoths. They are also distributed over Nepal, India, Indochina, Borneo and Thailand. Terrestrial elephants, such as the African and Asian elephant, are herbivores. Asian and African elephants are listed as endangered species.
While there are sanctuaries created to protect these mammals, the lack of conscience when it comes to their general safety by others holds responsibility for the reduction in their numbers. The common belief that there existed “pygmy” and “water” elephants has no basis; they are probably varieties of the African forest elephants. https://www.britannica.com/animal/elephant-mammal, elephant - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), elephant - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). African and Asian elephants African elephants live in sub-Saharan Africa, the rainforests of Central and West Africa and the Sahel desert in Mali, … It has slender, downward-pointing tusks.

The trunk of the African elephant may be more extendable, but that of the Asian elephant is probably more dexterous. Elephants are grayish to brown in colour, and their body hair is sparse and coarse. At the beginning of the 21st century, fewer than 50,000 Asian elephants remained in the wild. For more, keep reading with us here at AnimalWised. The trunk is large and powerful, weighing about 130 kg (290 pounds) in an adult male and capable of lifting a load of about 250 kg. This species has been dubbed with its ‘‘elephant’’ name, due to its appearance. Although popularly known as an elephant, the truth is that this marine species does not bear any relationship to the aforementioned terrestrial mammal. Significant populations of African forest elephants are also found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, and Cameroon. The African bush elephants cover long distances within their habitats in search of food as they consume nearly 496 lbs of vegetation daily.

By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Elephants drink by sucking as much as 10 litres (2.6 gallons) of water into the trunk and then squirting it into the mouth. Their preferred habitat is areas with dense rainforest cover. In times of drought, elephants dig water holes in dry riverbeds by using their tusks, feet, and trunks. In the vast majority of mammals, the throat contains nine bones connected in a boxlike structure, the hyoid apparatus, that supports the tongue and the voice box. Large branches are sometimes wielded, and objects may be thrown in threat displays. African elephants have much larger ears, which are used to dissipate body heat. The proboscis comprises 16 muscles. They eat by detaching grasses, leaves, and fruit with the end of the trunk and using it to place this vegetation into the mouth. Such consumption makes elephants an important ecological factor, because it substantially affects and even alters the ecosystems elephants live in.
The natural habitat for the species is African forests, particularly in the Congo basin. Tool use in elephants involves holding branches and scratching themselves in places that the trunk and tail cannot reach. An adult elephant needs to consume a large amount of food daily in order to survive. Elephants can consume up to 200 liters of water a day. Click to attach a photo related to your comment. Elephant seals first inhabited the colder areas of North America, specifically, the surrounding Alaskan waters. A major muscle covering the top and sides functions to raise the trunk; another covers the bottom.

Only the last four molars or their remains are present after about 60 years of age. They are considered to be incredibly peaceful and sociable animals.In addition, they are considered incredibly sacred animals in India. Habitat loss is also a significant challenge facing elephant populations worldwide. This means that they live on; leaves, herbs, barks and stems. Botswana has more African bush elephants than any other nation with a population of 118,736 elephants. In addition to illegal hunting, we can include the destruction of their habitat. There are at least 2,100 wild elephants in Sri Lanka. This is a process in which not all members of the herd survive, since food and water becomes scarce. Asian elephants live in areas of India and Southeast Asia, with a habitat consisting of the grassy lands surrounding the jungle. These amounts can be double for a hungry and thirsty individual. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Updates? When elephants meet, one may touch the face of the other, or they will intertwine trunks.

They are found most often in savannas, grasslands, and forests but occupy a wide range of habitats, including deserts, swamps, and highlands in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia. Like other saltwater animals, elephant seals spend most of their lives in water. These species measure up to 3 meters in height, weighing up to 5 tons. They are found most often in savannas, grasslands, and forests but occupy a wide range of habitats, including deserts, swamps, and highlands in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia.


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