The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) weighs between 3000 and 5000 kg and has grey or brown skin. Their ears are smaller than those of the African Elephant and the in habit scrub forests and jungles.
- Mass: up to 7.5 tons
- Body Length: 6-7.5 m
- Tail Length: 1-1.3 m
- Shoulder Height: 2.2-3.7 m
- Diet: herbivorous (grasses, buds, fruits, leaves, roots, bark)
- Breeding Season: Births often coincide with rainy season
- Age at Sexual Maturity: 8-12 years
- Number of Offspring: 1-2
- Predators: lions, hyenas, humans, crocodiles (prey on young)
- Average Lifespan: 50-70 years (wild)
Classification:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Proboscidea
- Family: Elephantidae
- Genus: Elephas
- Species: Elephas maximus
Where to See:
India, Southeast Asia, Sumatra and Borneo. Former range included areas south of the Himalayas and China, north to the Yangtze River.
References:
- Burnie D, Wilson DE. 2001. Animal. London: Dorling Kindersley. 624 p.
- Ciszek D. 1999. Elephas maximus, Animal Diversity Web. November 16, 2008.
