They are usually bluffing when performing these actions. Although tough, an elephant's skin is very sensitive. They usually live in a group consisting of members up to 50–60. [62] They appear to have a sesamoid, an extra "toe" similar in placement to a giant panda's extra "thumb", that also helps in weight distribution. [9], Three species of elephants are recognised; the African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) and forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) of sub-Saharan Africa, and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) of South and Southeast Asia. [171] In testimony to a US federal court in 2009, Barnum & Bailey Circus CEO Kenneth Feld acknowledged that circus elephants are struck behind their ears, under their chins and on their legs with metal-tipped prods, called bull hooks or ankus. [145] Historically, numerous cultures made ornaments and other works of art from elephant ivory, and its use rivalled that of gold. asked Feb 13 in English by Santanu01 (51.0k points) the gentlemen of the jungle; class-11; 0 votes. War elephants were trained to grasp an enemy soldier and toss him to the person riding on them or to pin the soldier to the ground and impale him. Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea; extinct members include the mastodons. Suckling bouts tend to last 2–4 min/hr for a calf younger than a year and it continues to suckle until it reaches three years of age or older. Adult bulls mostly interact with family groups when looking for a mate. [180], In many cultures, elephants represent strength, power, wisdom, longevity, stamina, leadership, sociability, nurturance and loyalty. The elephant's proboscis is an incredible instrument, allowing the animal to smell, to drink, to reach food at unreachable heights by other animals, to move objects and obstacles and to maintain and consolidate social relations with the other members of the group. [44] Losing the trunk would be detrimental to an elephant's survival,[6] although in rare cases, individuals have survived with shortened ones. Africa, in particular, contains many rock paintings and engravings of the animals, especially in the Sahara and southern Africa. Elephas diversified into new species in Asia, such as E. hysudricus and E. platycephus;[26] the latter the likely ancestor of the modern Asian elephant. [13][14][15] In 2017, DNA sequence analysis showed that L. cyclotis is more closely related to the extinct Palaeoloxodon antiquus, than it is to L. africana, possibly undermining the genus Loxodonta as a whole. [68] Connective tissue exists in place of the pleural cavity. African elephants have 21 pairs of ribs, while Asian elephants have 19 or 20 pairs. Normally the skin of an Asian elephant is covered with more hair than its African counterpart.[60]. They are considered to be keystone species, due to their impact on their environments. Asian elephants were always more common than their African counterparts in modern zoos and circuses. For the African elephants, tusks are present in both males and females, and are around the same length in both sexes, reaching up to 300 cm (9 ft 10 in),[50] but those of males tend to be thicker. [17] The earliest proboscids, the African Eritherium and Phosphatherium of the late Paleocene, heralded the first radiation. The percentage of males with ivory varies from just 5% in Sri Lanka to aound 90% in southern India - possibly reflecting the intensity of past ivory hunting. [126] These calls occur at frequencies less than 20 Hz. The back of the skull is flattened and spread out, creating arches that protect the brain in every direction. After its first month, a calf can pick up, hold, and put objects in its mouth, but cannot suck water through the trunk and must drink directly through the mouth. As in heterosexual interactions, this involves mounting. Free Elephant Hosting By ElephantHost.com, The skin of the elephant is not very thick, except around the back and sides, The skin is marked with ridged creases resembling warty outgrowths, which is abundant on the trunk and forehead, There seems to be an absence of sweat glands in the elephant. Some aggressive interactions between elephants and rhinoceros have been recorded. [142][143], African elephants receive at least some legal protection in every country where they are found, but 70% of their range exists outside protected areas. Elephants can be trained to respond to over 30 commands. [12] They are born with sterile intestines and require bacteria obtained from their mother's feces to digest vegetation. [144], In 2008, the IUCN listed the Asian elephant as endangered due to a 50% population decline over the past 60–75 years[145] while CITES lists the species under Appendix I. The sixth (and usually final) set must last the elephant the rest of its life. Forest elephants mainly live in equatorial forests but will enter gallery forests and ecotones between forests and savannahs. Mud bath anyone? At the same time, improvements in lip and leg coordination occur. Elephants are popularly thought of as having an excellent memory. [169] Elephants in European zoos appear to have shorter lifespans than their wild counterparts at only 17 years, although other studies suggest that zoo elephants live as long those in the wild. A female elephant leads the group to safety, food and shelter. [69], The heart of an elephant weighs 12–21 kg (26–46 lb). She had to be kept inside for the duration of the crisis and was only allowed out in … Elephants can live up to 70 years in the wild. Answer: (a) elephant. With no "aerial phase", the fast gait does not meet all the criteria of running, although the elephant uses its legs much like other running animals, with the hips and shoulders falling and then rising while the feet are on the ground. This species reached a height of 120–180 cm (3 ft 11 in–5 ft 11 in) and weighed 200–2,000 kg (400–4,400 lb). Elephants cannot coexist with humans in agricultural areas due to their size and food requirements. Asian elephants have some patches of depigmentation, particularly on the forehead and ears and the areas around them. [164] The Persians used them during the Achaemenid Empire (between the 6th and 4th centuries BC)[162] while Southeast Asian states first used war elephants possibly as early as the 5th century BC and continued to the 20th century. Serious fights are rare. [132] One study of a captive female Asian elephant suggested the animal was capable of learning and distinguishing between several visual and some acoustic discrimination pairs. Male Asian elephants are usually about 261–289 cm (8 ft 7 in–9 ft 6 in) tall at the shoulder and 3.5–4.6 t (3.9–5.1 short tons) whereas females are 228–252 cm (7 ft 6 in–8 ft 3 in) tall at the shoulder and 2.3–3.1 t (2.5–3.4 short tons). Feld stated that these practices are necessary to protect circus workers and acknowledged that an elephant trainer was reprimanded for using an electric shock device, known as a hot shot or electric prod, on an elephant. When an elephant steps on a trap, it does not spring. At Amboseli, bulls under 24 do not go into musth, while half of those aged 25–35 and all those over 35 do. The ones who have fear in their hearts because of people with skin like mine; The ones whose parents versed them on what to say so they will come home at night. There appear to be cohesive family units and loose aggregations. They were not used as much as horse-drawn chariots by either the Pandavas or Kauravas. Because of the timing, these attacks have been interpreted as vindictive. In the modern era, elephants have traditionally been a major part of zoos and circuses around the world. [8] Elephants and sirenians are further grouped in the clade Tethytheria. [80], Because of their large size, elephants have a huge impact on their environments and are considered keystone species. An elephant is a very large animal. They have grayish to brown skin, and their body hair is sparse and coarse. Kaavan standing under the cover of a shed in his enclosure. [175] In Africa, groups of adolescent elephants damaged homes in villages after cullings in the 1970s and 1980s. Elephants are used as working animals in Asia. This can last from a day to four months. You … [145], The poaching of elephants for their ivory, meat and hides has been one of the major threats to their existence. There are typically nine groups in a clan. The chewing teeth are replaced six times in a typical elephant's lifetime. Loxodonta branched off earliest around the Miocene and Pliocene boundary while Mammuthus and Elephas diverged later during the early Pliocene. [167] As of 2000, around 1,200 Asian and 700 African elephants were kept in zoos and circuses. But on Sunday, the world's loneliest elephant will finally leave behind his desolate enclosure for a new life on the other side of the continent, thanks to the determination of a coalition of determined volunteers and, somewhat unexpectedly, the American pop icon Cher. They have been observed to have "nursing units" and "juvenile-care units". These elephants likely grew smaller on islands due to a lack of large or viable predator populations and limited resources. [162], Overall, elephants owed their initial successes to the element of surprise and to the fear that their great size invoked. Orwell did not intend to kill the animal but had got the rifle just to protect himself in case the beast went wild; he had already started feeling foolish. The former were related to Barytherium and lived in Africa and Eurasia,[21] while the latter may have descended from Eritreum[20] and spread to North America. OTTAWA — Sen. Murray Sinclair has teamed up with primatologist Jane Goodall to propose a law to protect captive animals and ban imports of elephant ivory and hunting trophies into Canada. [67], The brain of an elephant weighs 4.5–5.5 kg (10–12 lb) compared to 1.6 kg (4 lb) for a human brain. An individual running or mock charging can create seismic signals that can be heard at great distances. [170], The use of elephants in circuses has also been controversial; the Humane Society of the United States has accused circuses of mistreating and distressing their animals. [62] Elephants are capable swimmers. Asian Elephant Conservation Fund: Learn about legislation passed to protect Asian Elephants. Elephants can get a sunburn and use the mud to protect their skin from the sun. [70] When standing, the elephant's heart beats approximately 30 times per minute. To the observer of the elephant, the apparent colour of the skin is determined by the colour of the area's When comparing an elephant's vocal folds to those of a human, an elephant's are longer, thicker, and have a larger cross-sectional area. This is because elephant’s take frequent mudbaths or dust with soil to protect against insects, to control body temperature, to condition and moisturize the skin, and to protect against sunburn. According to the World Wildlife Foundation, the Sumatran elephant is one of our planet's most critically endangered species. When detecting seismic signals, the animals lean forward and put more weight on their larger front feet; this is known as the "freezing behaviour". [114] Calves are born 85 cm (33 in) tall and weigh around 120 kg (260 lb). Later on, genera such as Phiomia and Palaeomastodon arose; the latter likely inhabited forests and open woodlands. D. It was a horrible, ugly picture of a man who did not look like an elephant. When moving, elephant mothers will touch their calves with their trunks or feet when side-by-side or with their tails if the calf is behind them. Question 20. [61] Both the front and hind limbs can support an elephant's weight, although 60% is borne by the front. [125], Elephants are known to communicate with seismics, vibrations produced by impacts on the earth's surface or acoustical waves that travel through it. [46], The core body temperature averages 35.9 °C (96.6 °F), similar to that of a human. When a cow has mated, her family may produce calls of excitement known as the "mating pandemonium". The muscles of the trunk connect to a bony opening in the skull. World Wildlife Fund: Learn more about the species and the organization is doing to help. The cranium is particularly large and provides enough room for the attachment of muscles to support the entire head. An elephant’s skin is an inch thick in some areas but very thin behind their ears, under their legs (armpits), and around their eyes and rectum. This has been interpreted as expressing "concern";[136] however, others would dispute such an interpretation as being anthropomorphic;[137][138] the Oxford Companion to Animal Behaviour (1987) advised that "one is well advised to study the behaviour rather than attempting to get at any underlying emotion". Proboscidean diversity declined during the Oligocene. [159][160], The practice of working elephants has also been attempted in Africa. The temporal gland is a huge organ which weighs about 1.5 kg, producing a heavily scented secretion which trickles down the [161], Historically, elephants were considered formidable instruments of war. [115] As such, newborn elephants are precocial and quickly stand and walk to follow their mother and family herd. [92], Bulls engage in a behaviour known as mate-guarding, where they follow oestrous females and defend them from other males. and how we can keep this noble mammal alive and well on the earth. [89] Elephants tend to have high numbers of parasites, particularly nematodes, compared to other herbivores. The products pack unique plant ingredients aimed to protect your skin and add major glow, like age-defying seaweed extract, organic algae, vitamin C, and ferulic acid. It relies on touch, smell, and hearing, as its eyesight is poor. Because they need larger amounts of land than other sympatric terrestrial mammals, they are the first to be affected by human encroachment. [68], A male elephant's testes are located internally near the kidneys. [32] Elephants inhale mostly through the trunk, although some air goes through the mouth. [48], Elephants usually have 26 teeth: the incisors, known as the tusks, 12 deciduous premolars, and 12 molars. The event was conducted to raise awareness of the value of elephants and rhinos, to help mitigate human-elephant conflicts, and to promote anti-poaching activities. About 214,000 elephants were estimated to live in the rainforests, fewer than had previously been thought. [43], The trunk, or proboscis, is a fusion of the nose and upper lip, although in early fetal life, the upper lip and trunk are separated. [49] Lin Wang, a captive male Asian elephant, lived for 86 years.[120]. [188] Elephants were often difficult to portray by people with no first-hand experience of them. This could have a factual basis; they possibly have cognitive maps to allow them to remember large-scale spaces over long periods of time. They have been recorded swimming for up to six hours without touching the bottom, and have travelled as far as 48 km (30 mi) at a stretch and at speeds of up to 2.1 km/h (1 mph). These animals were relatively small and aquatic. A greeting rumble is emitted by members of a family group after having been separated for several hours. [184] The expression "elephant in the room" refers to an obvious truth that is ignored or otherwise unaddressed. [130] When detecting the seismics of an alarm call signalling danger from predators, elephants enter a defensive posture and family groups will pack together. This may allow the animal to deal with the pressure differences when its body is underwater and its trunk is breaking the surface for air,[32] although this explanation has been questioned. “Every morning, I start my meditation by taking a few deep breaths and saying, in my head, “Thank you, skin.” I think about how everything my skin does is literally meant to protect me, and try to find the positive in the perceived ‘flaw’.” It still needs its mother for nutrition and protection from predators for at least another year. Proboscidea phylogeny based on upper molars. However, the presence of mammary glands proves a useful aid. [51] In earlier times, elephant tusks weighing over 200 pounds (more than 90 kg) were not uncommon, though it is rare today to see any over 100 pounds (45 kg). [188], Elephants are ubiquitous in Western popular culture as emblems of the exotic, especially since – as with the giraffe, hippopotamus and rhinoceros – there are no similar animals familiar to Western audiences. One of the biggest threats to elephant populations is the ivory trade, as the animals are poached for their ivory tusks. The only visible glands which are found on the skin of the elephant are the mammary glands and the two temporal glands; [84] The size of adult elephants makes them nearly invulnerable to predators,[75] though there are rare reports of adult elephants falling prey to tigers. Successful conservation efforts in certain areas have led to high population densities. Elephants have a fission–fusion society, in which multiple family groups come together to socialise. The first (or anovulatory) surge, could signal to males that the female is in oestrus by changing her scent, but ovulation does not occur until the second (or ovulatory) surge. The Arthashastra (written around 300 BC) advised the Mauryan government to reserve some forests for wild elephants for use in the army, and to execute anyone who killed them. Larger bull groups consisting of over 10 members occur only among African bush elephants, the largest of which numbered up to 144 individuals. By comparison, human sperm has to swim around only 76.2 mm (3.00 in). Jessica L. Yarbrough, from the magazine The Cut, uses skin gratitude daily. A durable nictitating membrane protects the eye globe. The most famous circus elephant was probably Jumbo (1861 – 15 September 1885), who was a major attraction in the Barnum & Bailey Circus. Asian elephant eating tree bark, using its tusks to peel it off. About 380 Asians and 190 Africans are known to exist in Europe, and Japan has around 70 Asians and 67 Africans. [68] Elephants have a unique organ, the temporal gland, located in both sides of the head. [156] They are valued over mechanised tools because they can work in relatively deep water, require relatively little maintenance, need only vegetation and water as fuel and can be trained to memorise specific tasks.