elephant - one of the largest wildlife existing in the world.Previously, the planet was a lot of varieties of these giants.Today, we live among the African elephant and Indian elephant.This type of animals treated and the mammoths that became extinct during the Ice Age, and mastodons that disappeared before the arrival of humans in America, where they lived.The difference between the two remaining types of material, so it is appropriate to make a comparison of African and Indian elephants.Features
life
These animals can be found in different areas of the Earth.They live in a herd, which can counts from ten to thirty elephants and small elephant.Also, it is bound to have an adult, the authoritative leader.
Each elephant gives birth to an average life of about five elephants.Kinship in herds very close.For example, there are groups in which about a hundred individuals related by blood.Certain residence elephants there.They all life on the move, going from place to place, eating vegetation and sleeping near the pond.
main difference
How are Indian and African elephant?The most important distinction between the two types can be seen with the naked eye.This sizes.Elephant African and Indian elephant in nature do not occur in the same areas.Their habitats are located far from each other, and the transportation of animals is a labor-intensive process.But if it were real, it would be possible to note that the African elephant is larger than its counterpart from India.
largest elephant reaches a height of 4 meters.The length of his body in this case is about 7 meters.Weight of the African elephant can reach 7 tons.In contrast, the Indian elephant weigh up to 5 tons.Its growth may be about 3 meters, and length - 5-6 meters.It is believed that the African elephant - a descendant of the mastodon, and Indian - a mammoth.
ears and tusks
African elephant differs from the Indian a few details appearance.Firstly, the animals of the African ears much more than that of their Indian counterparts.They may have a length of 1.5 meters.The shape of the African elephant ears are more rounded.Indian elephant has a slightly elongated and slightly pointed ears.One of the most obvious distinguishing features between the two is the presence of tusks.At the African fauna, they are mandatory.
This applies to both males and females have tusks which are a bit shorter.The presence of the tusks of animals from India - a rarity.Moreover, if they occur, only the males.Such individuals are called in India Makhno.Indian elephants tusks are very long and almost straight.Although akin to the African and Indian elephant, the differences between them are significant.
color and body structure
Elephant African and Indian elephant are also distinguished by color.Animals from Africa have a color from light brown to gray.On the surface a lot of folds, or wrinkles.Indian elephants have color from dark gray to brown.A distinctive feature of their body is a little vegetation on the skin.
What else is different African and Indian elephant?The structure of the body also varies.So, the Indian elephant back is a little hooked, unlike their counterparts in Africa, which are straight or slightly arched spine.Despite slower growth, the animals of India seem more massive.It comes from the fact that their legs are shorter and thicker.African elephants have long legs, due to their type of food.
They have to get the vegetation from the trees.Indian animal feed and pasture is still in the form of grass.Their trunk is a digital process, and the representatives of the African species are two of them.
If we consider the traces of these animals, it is possible to say with certainty what kind of elephant held here.This is due to structural features of the extremities of these giants from different continents.African elephants are usually five of hooves on the front legs (at least - four).The hind limbs of these animals have three hoof.Indian elephants have five hooves on the front feet and 4 on the rear.Therefore, even on the trail, you can determine the type of animal.
internal structure
African and Indian elephant have external differences, to see who may not even be an expert in this field.Having come to the zoo or the circus, you can easily determine the type of animal.But they also have some internal features that can not recognize the ordinary people.
So, the African elephant has 21 pairs of ribs.In contrast, an animal from another continent just 19 pairs of these bones.Indian elephants have 26 tail vertebrae, while their African counterparts, there are 33 tail vertebrae.Differences exist in the structure of molars.
the Indian elephants puberty comes to 15-20 years.In this they are ahead of their relatives from the African continent.In the past this period comes at the age of 25 years.
Features
character differences between the animals is not only in their internal and external structure, but also in their character and temperament.Indian elephants are very friendly and get along well with people.They are easier to tame than the people and is attracting these giants to perform heavy work (for example, for shipping charges).Indian elephants are also easier to train, so they often act in the circus.Animals from the African continent more aggressive.They are difficult to tame, but to make it possible.Basically, they are living in the wild.But there are examples of use and these animals.For example, African elephants centuries ago took part in the campaigns of Hannibal.
Habitat
avilable elephants depend largely on their habitat.Indian elephants are common in some parts of India, Burma, East Pakistan, Nepal, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Sumatra, Ceylon and Malacca.Their habitats - a dense forest with tall grasses.African elephants are found in many parts of Africa, and more particularly in Botswana, Ethiopia, Namibia.Their habitat is diverse.However, these giants can not be found in the deserts and semi-deserts.Elephant African and Indian elephant - is related animals, each in its own interest.
