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Common Name
African Elephant
Scientific Name
Loxodonta africana
Distribution
Africa, south of the Sahara
Habitat
The Savanna grassland; forest areas
Diet
The African Elephant is a herbivore and eats mostly grasses, bark, and fruit. In one year, an elephant can drink 15,500 gallons of water.
Size
Male trunk to tail length 20-24.5 ft.(6-7.5m); weight up to 13,200 lbs.(6000 kg). Female trunk to tail length 18-22.5 ft.
Gestation
20-24 months.
Longevity
The African Elephant can live as long as 40-60 yrs.
Behavior
Elephants can travel up to 30 miles a day on a regular basis. They spend the day grazing, bathing, and sleeping. They usually travel in herds consisting of related cows and calves, or of all bulls. Some males live alone.
Endangered Status
Threatened (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Interesting Facts
The African Elephant is the largest of all land animals and also has the biggest brain of any land animal. Both males and females have ivory tusks. Elephants are also wonderful swimmers. Man is the only real enemy of the elephant. Man threatens the elephant by killing it for its tusks and by destroying its habitat.
Suggested Readings
Zoobooks. "Elephants." San Diego: Wildlife Education Ltd., 1980.Macdonald, David. The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File Publications, 1987.
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