LARGEST LIVING MAMMAL

INTRODUCTION AND PHYSIC

African elephants  are the largest living land mammal. African elephants have a large head, large ears, and a long muscular trunk.

The two front incisors of African elephants grow into large tusks that curve forward.The African elephant's trunk has two fingerlike outgrowths, one at the top edge of the tip and another on the bottom edge. this enable the elephant it to pick up small objects and strip leaves from trees.

ENEMIES OF ELEPHANTS

The African elephant's predators include lions, hyenas, and humans.The basic social unit in African elephants is the maternal family unit. The main threats facing African elephants are hunting and habitat destruction. The species is targeted by poachers who hunt the elephants for their valuable ivory tusks.

DIET

African elephants, like most elephants can eat up to 350 pounds of food each day .African elephants are herbivores. They feed on plant material such as grasses, buds, fruits, leaves, roots and bark.

WEIGHT AND SIZE

About 13 to 16 feet long and 4 - 7 tons approximately.

HABITAT

African elephants once inhabited a range that stretched from the southern Sahara Desert to the southern tip of Africa and reached from the west coast of Africa to the Indian Ocean.

REPRODUCTION

African elephants reproduce sexually. Females become sexually mature between the ages of 12 and 14 years. Pregnancy is 22 months long and is timed so that calves are born during the rainy season when food is plentiful.Only one calf is born at a time and females only give birth about once every five years.

KINDS OF ELEPHANTS

African elephants are traditionally considered to be one of two species of elephants, the other being the Asian elephant. The African savanna elephant and the African forest elephant.

CLOSE RELATIVES

Elephants closest living relative are manatees. Other close relative to elephants include rhinoceroses. Although today there are only two living species in the elephant family, there used to be some 150 species.