African Elephant
The largest land mammal on the earth, weighing up to 16,000 pounds,
elephants have captivated observers for centuries. Elephants have
been used for labor, war, entertainment and hunting. Elephants are
one of the most unique animals due to their enormous size and unusual
physical characteristics.
One of the most popular elephants is Dumbo, from the Walt Disney
film made in the 1940's. The large ears of elephants, exaggerated
in this film, do not hear well, despite their size. They are instead
used to help keep themselves cool. There are many blood vessels
in the ears, that as they are flapped, easily circulate the blood
and keep body temperatures down, an ability that is essential in
their desert climates. Elephants ears are so effective due to their
size, ranging from two to three feet across.
One of the most distinguishing attributes is the trunk of the elephant.
The trunk is an elongated nose that has many purposes and functions,
made up of over 40,000 muscles, but no bones. They can use their
trunk to suck up water and then spray it into their mouth to drink,
wash themselves and keep cool. They use it to warn of danger and
communicate with other elephants, as well as to smell and touch
each other affectionately. The trunk is used most frequently though
to eat. Elephants eat an average of 16 hours a day. Elephants use
their trunk to reach up into trees to get food and pluck grass.
Because they are such large animals and are herbivores who only
eat grass, leaves, other vegetation that is available, African Elephants
eat a high quantity of food, more than 700 pounds a day! They have
to eat so much because over half of all they consume is passed through
their systems undigested.
Elephants have the largest teeth of any animal. Even though they
eat so much food,they have only four molar teeth. What they lack
in numbers though, they make up in size. Each molar can weigh more
than five pounds. With all the food that is eaten, their teeth take
a lot of wear and tear and they need to replace their teeth throughout
their life, up to six times for some. Their large tusks that extend
out in front of them are also teeth, but instead of chewing, these
incisor teeth, are used for defense, digging for water and uprooting
trees. The ivory of these tusks has long been sought after and the
primary reason elephants have been hunted.
Elephants are social animals. They live together in herds, with
older females, called matriarchs, guiding the family. Adult males
generally live alone while younger elephants, both male and female
stay with the herd. Baby elephants, called calves, have a gestation
period of 18-22 months and typically nurse from their mother up
to five years. When a calf seems bothered or upset, the herd will
come to its aide to comfort and caress. It is several more years
after they stop nursing before they fully mature and if they are
male, move out to be on their own. Their social nature is also reflected
in their awareness of death, as grieving seems to take place among
a herd when one of their family members die.
Not long ago there were over five million elephants on the earth,
but there exists now less than a half million. Climate changes,
as well as destruction of habitat, and hunting have influenced the
number of elephants. Elephants need a lot of land because they eat
so much, drink so much and are such large creatures. When humans
are close, the elephants do not have the space they need and infringe
on farm land, even eating crops. Although elephants have been revered
for centuries and a symbol for faith and religion for some, they
are quickly dwindling in numbers, and it is not known how long these
captivating mammals will survive.
About the Author
Emma Snow has always adored wild animals. Emma provides content
for Wildlife Animals http://www.wildlife-animals.com
and Riding Stable http://www.riding-stable.com.
african elephant
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