Calves are the centre of attention in their family groups and rely on their mothers for as long as three years. Adult bulls mostly interact with family groups when looking for a mate and enter a state of increased testosterone and aggression known as musth, which helps them gain dominance and reproductive success. Males ('bulls') leave their family groups when they reach puberty and may live alone or with other males. Elephants have a fission–fusion society in which multiple family groups come together to socialise. The groups are led by an individual known as the matriarch, often the oldest cow. Females ('cows') tend to live in family groups, which can consist of one female with her calves or several related females with offspring. Other animals tend to keep their distance from elephants while predators, such as lions, tigers, hyenas, and any wild dogs, usually target only young elephants (or 'calves'). They are considered to be keystone species due to their impact on their environments. African elephants have larger ears and concave backs while Asian elephants have smaller ears and convex or level backs.Įlephants are herbivorous and can be found in different habitats including savannahs, forests, deserts, and marshes. Their pillar-like legs can carry their great weight. Elephants' large ear flaps help to control their body temperature. Their incisors grow into tusks, which can serve as weapons and as tools for moving objects and digging. All elephants have several distinctive features, the most notable of which is a long trunk or proboscis, used for many purposes, particularly breathing, lifting water, and grasping objects. Male African elephants are the largest extant terrestrial animals and can reach a height of 4 m (13 ft) and weigh 7,000 kg (15,000 lb). Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea other, now extinct, members of the order include deinotheres, gomphotheres, mammoths, and mastodons. Elephants are scattered throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. cyclotis), and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). Three species are recognised, the African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), the African forest elephant (L. Elephants are large mammals of the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea.

Elephant sitting down outline