Asian elephant
A species of Elephas, Also known as Indian elephant, Sumatran elephant Scientific name : Elephas maximus Genus : Elephas
Asian elephant, A species of Elephas
Also known as:
Indian elephant, Sumatran elephant
Scientific name: Elephas maximus
Genus: Elephas
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Manu Manjunath , used under CC-BY-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Description
The Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) is one of the three currently recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant. It is endemic to Sumatra and is classified as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.
General Info
Lifespan
60-80 years
Diet
Asian elephant has a herbivorous diet, primarily consuming bark, roots, leaves and stems of a variety of plants, especially grass. Fruits like bananas and pineapples are particularly favoured by them.
Appearance
Asian elephant is a large mammal with a sturdy cylindrical body and tough grey skin. Its most distinctive feature is a long, flexible proboscis or trunk. The animal also possesses two long curved tusks, but these can be larger or absent in females. Other noticeable traits are its large, flap-like ears and pillar-like legs. There is no distinct fur, but rather a sparse covering of bristly hairs turning more pronounced with age. It is mainly uniform grey with less coloration variety.
Behavior
Asian elephant, a notably social species, exhibits matriarchal hierarchical societies with complex communication involving visual signals, touch, and infrasound. Their daily activities often involve foraging and grooming, employing their adaptable trunks. Remarkably, they also display mourning behavior towards deceased members. They display no notable territorial behavior, but males can become highly aggressive during musth, a periodic physiological condition.
Population
Decreasing
Photo By Manu Manjunath , used under CC-BY-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Mammals Order
Elephants Family
Elephants and mammoths Genus
Elephas Species
Asian elephant