most massive animals living on Earth - the African elephant.However, his Indian "brother" has a much more modest size.The maximum height of an African elephant at the shoulders is 4 meters, and the weight of the old male up to 7.5 tons.Let's learn about this animal as much as possible.
Facts at a Glance
African elephant - a mammal, is distinguished not only for its impressive size, but also in psychology and way of life.Wildlife inhabits very few individuals - only 600,000, because these animals are included in the International Red Book and protected by law.
appearance of this giant delights, the adult has the following parameters:
- the animal's body length ranges from 6 to 7.5 meters.
- maximum height of an African elephant in the shoulders - 4 meters.
- Tail length - 100-130 cm.
- Body weight - from 3 to 7.5 tons.
- ear length can reach 1.5 meters.
- tusks weigh 18 to 107 kilograms.
elephant diver
African elephants - the descendants of the extinct mastodons and mammoths.Proceeding from this fact, there is nothing surprising in the fact, what the maximum height of an African elephant in the shoulders.
Australian scientists examined the embryos and fetuses animal came to the conclusion that many millions of years ago, elephants were able to swim ...!The fact that the structure of the renal ducts embryos bears a striking resemblance with the same bodies of frogs, fish, and sea cows.In addition, it appears that testes of male embryo hidden inside the same way as in all marine mammals.Most likely, waterfowl elephants that inhabit our planet centuries ago, swam under water, using the trunk as a snorkel diver.By the way, when pereplyvanii reservoirs modern types of elephant's trunk is also used for breathing - short neck does not allow them to keep their heads above water.Of course, the height of the African elephant in the shoulder allows it to easily navigate shallow creek wading.And at a depth always helps trunk.
Elephant bonuses
No matter what the height of the African elephant in the shoulders (2 or 4 meters), his body from birth covers a great many wrinkles, their number increases with age.Tusks of this species of elephants have both males and females.In addition, unlike other elephants having one "finger" on the trunk, the African - the happy owner of two.If this type can be judged by human standards, the African elephants - a kind of aristocracy.In addition, the brain of an elephant in 4 times more than human - so this animal has a brain the most impressive among those who have ever inhabited our planet.
It's all in the trunk!
Perhaps the most remarkable feature - not the maximum height of an African elephant in the shoulder, and his trunk.It has audio bone and is composed primarily of muscle.A lot of them - about 40 000. Few people know that the trunk - it is nothing like giperdlinnaya upper lip, which in the course of evolution has grown together with the nose.The trunk of an elephant for as for us a hand - he needs to deliver in the mouth food and water, raising dust bathing in dust baths, gather food, publish blares, fell trees.He also serves as the organ of smell, and "fingers" elephant can touch and explore objects the size of a coin.By the way, the trunk - a pretty heavy burden, and the elephant often gives a rest, putting their anatomical feature on the tusk.Interestingly, the tiny elephants do not know how to use its trunk and learn the wisdom of a few months.
Ivory
elephant tusks - is strongly developed incisors, the length of which, no matter what the maximum height of an African elephant in the shoulders, can reach 3.5 meters.The main enemy of an adult elephant - a man who is ready to kill a huge number of these animals for the sake of so-called ivory.Why do we need the tusks?Elephants digging of trenches and fight with competitors during mating battles.
interesting fact is that animals with massive tusks are becoming increasingly rare - perhaps Mother Nature took pity on its ancient inhabitants, allowing the evolution of decreases that for which exterminated African giants.
Wonder locators
Elephants pretty little eyes, they see the bad.This is due not only to the visually impaired, but also the fact that they are located on nearly stationary head, which greatly impoverishes minded animal.To inspect the outside world does not help even the maximum height of an African elephant in the shoulder.But these giants is truly magical ears!In addition to the functions of the air conditioner, they work like radar, capturing the sounds that a person can not afford to hear.
Elephants reconnaissance
Despite the impressive weight, elephants are able to move so silently that they would envy commandos.On the soles of the feet of the elephant are elastic cushion, played the role of shock absorbers.Thanks to them, the elephants walk as if on tiptoe.Their average speed of movement - 6 kilometers per hour, but in an emergency they can move at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour.These animals are not able to jump over obstacles and bounce up, but they easily swim ponds.
mother and baby elephant
female becomes sexually mature at 14-15 years and mate with males ready for mating battles.At the elect elephant is separated from the rest of the herd for procreation.Pregnancy lasts longer human females - about 22 months before the baby is born only one who is able to move in a herd in a couple of days.By the way, the weight of the newborn slonёnka rarely exceed 140 kg.During the life cycle of one elephant is able to give birth to 12 babies.
Cubs elephants - very lacquer prey for various predators.They do not have tusks and still have not grown to the point where the height of the African elephant at the shoulders repels wishing to dine their meat.In addition, in the first 5 years of life, babies fed breast milk and are under the watchful eye of the elephant.Walking alone baby begins in 10 years, and only when it becomes a giant, and the maximum height of the African elephant reaches the highest mark, he is not afraid of no one, except the person.
The natural habitat elephants live about as many people - about 70 years.In captivity, these animals often do not live to old age due to diseases, poor prison conditions, stress.
