Native to both Central and Southeast Asia, the Indian or Asian elephant (or Elephas maximus indicus) is a species distinguishable by a distinctive trunk, small ears, and grey skin with pink mottling around the face. They are smaller than their African counterparts, with males reaching an average height of 2.75m and weighing 4000kg, compared to the female average of 2.40m and 2400kg. They are large herbivores and live in a variety of different environments, including forests, grasslands and mountains, wherein they feed on tree leaves, bark and grasses.
Latin Name
Elephas maximus indicus
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indian-elephant
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Animal Facts
Elephants migrate at the beginning of the dry season to areas with more food and water.
Despite popular opinion, elephants do not use their trunk to drink; they use it to funnel water into their mouth.
Elephants have been known to use tree branches to swat flies, dislodge parasites and scratch themselves.
In the wild, elephants have mutualistic relationships with birds that remove parasites from their skin.
Indian elephants are more closely related to mammoths than African elephants.