African elephant - description, habitat, lifestyle

Elephants are distinguished by their uniqueness and large overall characteristics. There are several varieties, today we will study African representatives of the family. They are larger and more aggressive than their Indian counterparts, love to swim and know how to express emotions. A distinctive characteristic of elephants is that they can laugh, be sad, and even get bored. Some are happy to learn tricks, perform in circuses and draw. But we will not run ahead, we will study all the features in order.

Description

1. Today, a person knows several main types of proboscis, in particular, the elephant of India and Africa. It is believed that these mammals are the largest among all the animals on earth. However, this opinion is erroneous. The largest creatures are blue whales, the second line is occupied by sperm whales, and only elephants are behind them.
2. Among land animals, they are actually the largest. After them come the hippos. At the withers, the discussed individuals can grow up to 4 m with a mass of 7 tons. As for their Indian counterparts, they weigh about 5 tons with a height at the withers of 3 m. In Thailand and India, elephants are considered sacred, they are very carefully treated and protected. The elephant is a symbol of Buddhists. He embodies spiritual wealth. If an albino elephant is born in Thailand, the king takes the animal to his guardianship.
3. To date, sacred mammals occupy most of Africa and Asia (southeast). They like the tropical climate, as well as the savannah. May be among shrubs. Elephants are not found except in deserts. A distinctive feature are large tusks. Individuals use them when searching for and obtaining food. They make their way if the road is cast. Also mark territorial property. Tusks continue to grow throughout the life cycle. Each year they are extended by 17 cm. The oldest representatives of the species may have tusks 3 m long.
4. Over the entire life cycle, teeth change about 5 times. They grind, can fall out, new ones come to replace them. Ivory is highly valued, its pricing policy is indecently high. That is why animals are at risk. Elephants are protected by law, but poaching has always been and will be. People for the sake of profit destroy a valuable species. Almost all members of the family who have large tusks have already been destroyed. There are many states in which killing elephants is a fierce crime involving execution.

Features

1. Residents of Africa claim that elephants have a mysterious place where they go to die in old age or due to illness. This is argued by the fact that almost no one found the tusks of dead elephants. However, experts dispelled these speculations. It has been proven that porcupines consume ivory tusks when they die. In such a simple way, they cover the deficit in beneficial mineral compounds. The elephant trunk can reach a length of 7 m. It appeared due to the crossing of the nose and upper lip. The trunk focuses about one hundred thousand muscle fibers. It helps individuals make sounds, drink, breathe.
2. With a trunk, animals capture various objects and communicate with each other. In African individuals there are several processes on the trunk. They are necessary to break grass, as well as break trees and branches. It is with a trunk that animals are drenched. Sometimes they look for dirty water, clay subsequently dries and repels pests, creating a kind of barrier. Elephants are distinguished by large-sized ears.They are larger than those of Indian representatives. Individuals do not have sebaceous glands, so they do not know how to sweat. Ears perform the function of heat transfer; when the case is heated, heat is released through them.
3. Of course, it is with the auditory organs that animals operate like a fan. They scare away annoying flies and other insects. It is noteworthy that elephants are not able to jump or run. They learned to move in a hurry due to a quick step. However, the structure of the patella does not allow animals to run. A distinctive feature is the presence of special pads on the feet. They seem to spring, so the animals move quietly, despite their weight category. These very pads tend to expand.
4. In animals, the skin thickness is more than 3 cm in thickness. Some believe that these individuals are clumsy. But in time of need, they are able to accelerate to 30 kilometers per hour. Even in wetlands, individuals walk without fear. They have excellent vision. But guided by their scent and hearing. They also trust touch. Eyelashes on the eyes are very dense and long, protect from dust. Elephants swim well and love to do this, developing a speed of up to 70 kilometers per hour. They can swim without touching their limbs to the bottom for 6 hours or more. When individuals make a guttural sound, it is heard 10 km.

Lifestyle

1. Often, individuals in the wild form herds. Each can have about 15 animals. It is noteworthy that only females are present in such a family. Moreover, they are connected by family ties. Matriarchy prevails in such a herd.
2. Interestingly, such wild animals cannot stand loneliness. Therefore, they try to stay in groups in order to constantly communicate with relatives. It is noteworthy that the individuals represented remain loyal to their family until death.
3. Members of such a group always try to help and take care of each other. Animals even co-breed offspring. Elephants always protect each other from danger and help weaker relatives.
4. As for the males, the individuals are predominantly solitary. Most often, males try to stay close to a group of females. In an extremely rare case, they can form their own herds.
5. It is noteworthy that the young live in a group under 14 years old. After this, the offspring have the right to choose, they can stay with their family or form their own herd. It is interesting that elephants show great sympathy for the deceased relative. The individuals are very sad.
6. Such elephants respect the remains of relatives. They will never step on them and, if necessary, push them aside. Interestingly, elephants can even recognize their relative from the remains.
7. Otherwise, the life of such individuals is quite interesting. Such animals sleep no more than 4 hours a day. And during the rest, they almost always take a vertical position. The interesting thing is that individuals gather in a circle and lean on each other.
8. Some older elephants try to lay their large tusks on a tree or termite. It is noteworthy that the closest relatives of these individuals - Indian elephants, prefer to sleep just lying. They lie quietly on the ground while resting. Such animals are very smart and their brain structure is complex.
9. The brain weight of an adult can reach up to 5 kg. Therefore, it can be said with accuracy that in the wild animal world, elephants possess the highest intelligence. The presented individuals are so smart that they can identify themselves in the mirror. Therefore, elephants are self-aware.
10. Only dolphins and monkeys can boast of such a thing. It is noteworthy that various tools can be used exclusively by elephants and chimpanzees. Numerous studies have shown that the individuals in question use a branch from a tree as a fly swatter. Elephants have excellent memory.Such animals remember various places and people with whom it was possible to communicate.

Breeding

1. As for the breeding season, the breeding season does not have any serious time frame. But there is a confirmed fact that in the rainy season the birth rate of elephants increases significantly. Estrus time in females lasts only a couple of days. At this time, she screams attracts the male.
2. A pair is formed for several weeks. Only in such a period of time does the female sometimes move away from the herd. An interesting fact is that among male elephants there are homosexuals. The problem is that the female can mate only once a year. In addition, pregnancy lasts long enough.
3. In turn, males often need a sexual partner. Therefore, they have nowhere to go, how to start same-sex relationships. The female continues to bear offspring for almost 2 years. In most cases, only 1 baby is born. Moreover, when the female is about to give birth, all family members are present. They are always ready to help.
4. As soon as the birth is successful, the whole herd begins to loudly trumpet, announce and scream that there is a replenishment in their family. Interestingly, elephants appear weighing more than 100 kg. Their growth is about 1 m. It is noteworthy that elephants are completely devoid of teeth. Milk tusks begin to grow only at the age of 2 years. Then molars appear gradually.
5. Newborns consume about 10 liters per day. breast milk. The first 2 years, babies only eat them. Sometimes elephants little by little try food of plant origin. For several years, kids learn to use the trunk. This is actually a very difficult job.

Elephants are unique and very interesting representatives of animals in the wild. Such individuals live mainly in herds. Each member of the family will always protect the other. Elephants value such relationships and respect each other.

Video: African elephant (Loxodonta africana)