Scientific Name:

Loxodonta Africana

Description:

African elephants are the largest living land mammals. As well as being physically striking, they have remarkably complex and interesting social lives. Savannah elephants are the largest of the elephant species, making them the largest land animal in the world. They have four toes on the forefeet and five toes on the hindfeet. African elephants have larger ears and tusks than Asian elephants. Females are smaller and have shorter tusks than males. The skin is grey, with a little covering of hair.

Habitat:

Savannah grassland and desert.

Distribution:

Sub-saharan East and Central Africa.

Size:

Head-body length: 6-7.5m (male), females are 0.6m shorter. Tail length: 1-1.3m. Shoulder height: 3-3.4m (male), 2.7m (female).

Weight:

Weight: 6 tonnes (male), 3 tonnes (female). The largest known specimen weighed 10 tonnes and stood 4m at the shoulder.

Lifespan:

African elephants live for 55-60 years, and over 80 years in captivity.