African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)

The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) is among the largest land animals alive today. Adults grow to heights of 13 to 16 feet and weights of 4 to 7 tons. The African elephant has larger ears than the Asian elephant and its two front incisors grow into large tusks that curve forward. The tip of its trunk has two outgrowths (one at the top and one at the bottom) that enable it to pick up small objects and strip leaves from trees.

African elephants, like most elephants, require a great deal of food to support their large body size. They can eat up to 350 pounds of food each day and their foraging can drastically alter the landscape. The African elephant's predators include lions, hyenas, and humans.

Where to See: Once inhabiting a range that included areas south of the Sahara Desert extending to the south tip of Africa and reaching from the west coast of Africa to the Indian Ocean, African elephants now are restricted to small pockets in southern Africa.

Status: Endangered. For more information, refer to the IUCN Red List entry for Loxodonta africana.