Elephants are extraordinary mammals belonging to the order Proboscidea, characterized by their massive size, remarkable intelligence, and unique anatomical features like trunks and tusks. There are three living species: the African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). Elephants play crucial roles in their ecosystems, from shaping landscapes to dispersing seeds, and they exhibit complex social structures and behaviors that rival those of primates.
- Largest land mammals, part of Proboscidea
- Distinctive trunks and tusks
- Three species: African bush, African forest, Asian
- Key ecological roles: ecosystem engineers, seed dispersers
- Highly intelligent with complex social systems
*Proboscidea*
Three
Shaping landscapes and dispersing seeds
*Loxodonta* and *Elephas*
Elephants live in matriarchal herds.
Breathing, smelling, grasping, and drinking
Modern elephants and mammoths
Huge, continuously replacing molars
Africa and Asia