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Below we have listed some facts and figures for the three species of elephants, based on our best knowledge. If you have any data to help us fill in the gaps please let us know!

Genetic evidence presented in 2001 led to the generally accepted decision that Africa is home to two rather than one species of elephant: The African savanna elephant, Loxodonta africana and the African forest elephant, Loxodonta cyclotis. This is significant because it means that there are many fewer elephants remaining of each individual species, with the forest elephant being the more endangered.

  • Ele phant = arch great
  • Earths largest land mammal
  • 3 species:
    • African savanna, Loxodonta africana
    • African forest, Loxodonta cyclotis
    • Asian, Elephas maximus
  • In 37 countries in Africa, 13 in Asia
  • Extremely adaptable
  • Maximum life span approx. 70 years
  • Brain weighs 4-6 kg
  • Trunk, a fusion of upper lip and elongated nose weights up to 140 kg, can pick up a straw, push over a huge tree, tenderly touch family members, pour 12 litres of water into its mouth, detect scents over several kilometres
  • Tusks - elongated incisors - ivory has been coveted by humans for tens of thousands of years and has had lasting impact on art and culture
  • Skin is up to 32 mm thick in places and almost paper thin in others
  • Females can give birth to up to 12 offspring
  • Daily food intake 4-7% of body weight
  • Diet includes grass, herbs, tree foliage, fruit, bark, pith, lianes
  • Interbirth interval: 4-6 years
  • Gestation: about 660 days
  • Age at first reproduction: 8-15 years
  • Age at first musth: 15-28 years
  • Basic social unit is the family

African savanna
(Lododonta africana)		 African forest
(Loxodonta cyclotis)		 Asian
(Elephas maximus)
Population 2008
(Estimate)
 490,000-575.000
 100,000-160,000
 Approx. 30,000 wild;
15,000 captive
Population 1979 (Estimate) 1.3 million both African species - 28,000-42,000
Ave. max height male Almost 4 m 2.4 m Almost 3.5 m
Ave. max height female Almost 2.7 m 1.98 m
 2 m
Ave. max weight male 6,000 kg
5,500 kg
Ave. max weight female 2,767 kg -
Ave. weight newborn 120 kg -
 90 kg
Ave. age
at male independence		 14 years

Back shape Concave Concave Convex
Highest point Shoulders Shoulders Head
Ears Very large triangular Typically smaller,
more rounded		 Smaller, triangular,
prominent ear folds
Skin Wrinkled
Smoother than savanna
Teeth Lozenge-shaped loops Lozenge-shaped loops Narrow compressed loops
Mandible Short and wide Long and narrow
Tusks, male
 Thicker more upcurved
than forest		 More slender and straighter than savanna Yes, but many are tuskless
Tusks, female Thicker more upcurved than forest More slender and straighter than savanna Vestigial or absent
Tusklessness More common in females; % varies depending on ivory hunting pressure % varies from population to population Males: Varies from population to population
Tusks, ave max. weight 7 kg female; 49 kg male

Tusk, max. recorded weight 97.3 kg

Ivory
 Softer and more yellow
than forest		 Harder and "pinker"
than savanna
Trunk Two finger-like tips Two finger-like tips One finger-like tip
Toenails Four on forefoot;
three on hindfoot		 Five on forefoot; three on hindfoot Five on forefeet, four
on hind foot
Temporal gland secretion Both sexes;
common in females		 Both sexes;
uncommon in females		 Males only
Sound production As low as 10 Hz As low as 5 Hz As low as 8 Hz
Males Form bachelor groups Form bachelor groups Form bachelor groups rarely
Average home range Up to 11,000 km2
(desert elephants		 Up to 2,000 km2 Up to 4,000 km2
Predators Humans; juveniles,
calves: lions, hyenas		 Humans Humans, tigers
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 09 June 2009 14:27
 

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