ELEPHANTS

Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Proboscidea
Family: Elephantidae
Subfamily: Elephantinae

Elephants are mammals of the family Elephantidae and the largest existing land animals. Three species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea. A group of elephants is known as a herd or parade. The leader of elephant's herd is called matriarch.

AFRICAN ELEPHANTS

African bush elephant


African forest elephant

  • Large ears.
  • Fuller and more rounded head. 
  • Have tusks.
  • Trunk is more heavily ringed.
  • Toenail is 4 on front, 3 on back.
  • Have shorter tails than Asian elephants.
  • Concave backs.

ASIAN ELEPHANTS


  • Small ears.
  • Twin-domed head with an indent in the middle.
  • Small percentage of Asian elephants have tusks. 
  • Trunk have less rings than African elephants.
  • Toenail is 5 on front, 4 on back.
  • Have longer tails than African elephants. 
  • Convex or level backs.

 

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