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| AFRICAN | ASIAN | |
| Comparison of the genus Loxodonta and the genus Elephas |
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Taxonomy Kingdom: Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Genus: Species: |
Animalia Chordata Mammalia Proboscidea Elephantidae Loxodonta L. africana [bush/savanna] L. cyclotis [forest] |
Animalia Chordata Mammalia Proboscidea Elephantidae Elephas E. maximus maximus [Sri Lankan] E. maximus indicus [India] E. maximus sumatrensis [Sumatra] E. maximus borneensis [Borneo] |
| Range Maps:: |
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| IUCN Conservation Status: |
Red List: Endangered Between 470,000 and 690,000 elephants in Africa |
Red List: Endangered In 1995 only 25,600 to 32,750 according to World Wildlife Fund |
| Skeletons: |
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| Relative Sizes: | Largest animla in Africa; larger than Asian genus. | Largest animal in Asia. |
| Height: |
Males: to 12 ft tall at shoulder; Females: to 10 ft tall at shoulder. | Males & Females: 7 to 12 ft tall at back. |
| Weight: |
Males: to 12,000 pounds; Females: 8,000 to 11,000 pounds. | Males & Females: 6,000 to 11,000 pounds. |
| Record Sizes: | A male 13 ft tall, weighing 22,000 pounds displayed at Smithsonian Museum. | A male 11 ft tall, 26 ft long, weighing 17,600 pounds, killed in India 1924. |
| Tusks: |
Males & Females: 5 to 8 ft long weighing 50 to 100 pounds each. Record tusk: 11 1/2 feet long, 214 pounds. | Males: 4 to 7 feet long; Females have tushes which do not protrude visibly from jaw. Record tusk: 9 feet long, 16 inches at root, 104 pounds. |
| Teeth: |
Four molars weighing about 11 pounds each. Fewer plates than the Asian.
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Molars weigh about 9 pounds each; more plates than the African.
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| Physiognomy: |
Larger ears than Asian. Flat face. Slightly sway backed. 21 pairs of ribs. 3 nails on hind foot. 2 "fingers" on trunk tip. |
Smaller ears than African. Hemispherical bulges on head. Arched back. 19 pairs of ribs. 4 nails on hind foot. 1 "finger" on trunk tip. |
| Food & Water intake: | Food: 5% of body weight - 300-600 pounds daily. Water: 25-50 gallons daily. | Food: 10% of body weght - 350-500pounds daily. Water: 20-50 gallons daily. |
| Life Span: | 60 years in the wild [Smithsonian]. | 60 years in the wild. 80 years in captivity. |
| Sources Consulted: |
http://www.animalinfo.org/species/loxoafri.htm http://www.iucn.org/ http://en.wikipedia.org http://elephant.elehost.com/About_Elephants/Conservation/conservation.html http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ http://www.panda.org/ - [World Wildlife Fund] http://www.animalinfo.org/ http://www.is.wayne.edu/mnissani/elephant/factsAf.htm http://www.gutenberg.org/files/19550/19550-h/19550-h.htm http://www.archaeology.org/interactive/hierakonpolis/field/elephant1.html http://www.upali.ch [Elephant encyclopedia] | |
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