Although elephants are the largest land-dwelling mammals, the family has three species. Africa is home to two species – the African Savanna elephant and the African bush or forest Elephant. Within the Asian elephant family, there are four subspecies each within the family, namely: the Indian, Sri Lankan, Sumatran (and Bornean) elephant. Let’s go on a journey and visit each of these elephants and see what we can learn about these gentle giants.
Quick Evolutionary and Biological Overview
All elephants are cousins of the now-extinct woolly mammoth. Elephants are part of the family Elephantidae, the largest living mammal on land. They are characterized by their long trunks – an elongated nose and upper lip. They have thick legs resembling columns and massive heads with broad, flat ears. Their thick skin ranges from gray to brown. Although they have very little body hair, it is present and coarse. They live in savannas, grasslands, forests, swamps, and deserts and are found in Africa and across Asia.
Asian elephants are more tactile and sometimes use their trunks to touch each other to communicate, while the African species do not. Overall, elephants use various communication methods, such as trumpeting noises and stomping.
1. African Savanna or Bush Elephant
The African savanna elephant is the largest member of the elephant family. They have thick skin that ranges from reddish-brown to gray, and their undersides are lighter. They have large ears that help them radiate heat and cool down. Their upper incisor will become tusks that continually grow throughout their lives.
African Savanna or Bush Elephant Quick Facts
| Scientific name | Loxodonta africana |
| Adult Height | 2.2–3.2 m at the ‘shoulder’ |
| Adult Weight | 3,000 to 6,000 kg (6,613 to 13,2227 pounds) |
| Tusks | Curved tusks |
| Lifespan | Between 60 and 70 years |
| Top speed | 40 km/h (24.85 mi/h) |
| Gestation period | 22 months |
| Natural habitat | Grasslands and savanna woodlands |
| Temperament | Gentle unless provoked |
| Place found | Eastern, Southern, and Central Africa |
| Social structure | Complex matriarchal society. The matriarch leads the herd of females and calves. Males break away during puberty (between 8 and 12 years) to live alone or in small bachelor groups |
| IUCN status | Vulnerable |
2. African Forest Elephant
Slightly smaller than their grassland-dwelling cousins, the African Forest elephant was only recognized as a separate species between 2000 and 2010. They live primarily on fruits, leaves, and tree bark and are essential seed distributors. Their skin ranges between chocolate brown and gray with a lighter underside. They have smaller ears than their Savanna elephant cousins.
African Forest Elephant: Quick Facts
| Scientific name | Loxodonta cyclotis |
| Adult Height | 2.4–3 m at the ‘shoulder’ (8–10 feet) |
| Adult Weight | 1,800 to 5,400 kg (±4,000 to 12,000 pounds) |
| Tusks | Straight, slender, growing down |
| Lifespan | Between 60 and 70 years |
| Top speed | 40 km/h (24.85 mi/h) |
| Gestation period | 22 to 24 months |
| Natural habitat | Rainforests in the Congo Basin |
| Temperament | Gentle unless provoked |
| Place found | Eastern, Southern, and Central Africa |
| Social structure | Small family groups of up to 20 individuals |
| IUCN status | Critically Endangered |
3. Asian Elephants
Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are smaller than their African counterparts and have smaller ears. Unlike their African counterparts, some males grow tusks. In contrast, others don’t, and females sometimes also have tusks, referred to as ‘tushes.’ Three recognized subspecies are acknowledged:
- Indian or mainland elephant (E. maximus indicus)
- Sumatran (E. maximus sumatranus)
- Sri Lankan (E. maximus maximus)
A fourth subspecies is the Bornean pygmy elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis). Their origin is still debated among scientists. We’ll focus on the three main subspecies below.
Sri Lankan Elephant
As the name suggests, these elephants live on the island of Sri Lanka. Active conservation efforts are in place to protect the few thousand living individuals at risk of further population decline. Frequent lethal interactions with humans are also leading to a decrease in their numbers. Adults can reach 3.5 m (11 feet) and weigh between 2,000 and 5,400 kg (4,440–12,000 pounds), with the males being 20–30% larger than the females. They are primarily gray with lighter spots or freckles due to depigmentation (lack of pigment), like other Asian elephants. They have small, angular ears with a double dome shape tucked behind their heads. They aren’t picky eaters, and scientists have identified around 100 types of plants they like to forage and eat.
Indian Elephant
The most common Asian elephant is the Indian elephant, with around 26,000 to 30,000 individuals left in Asia. They reach a shoulder height between 2 and 3.2 meters (6.6 and 10.5 feet) and weigh between 2 and five metric tons (4,400–11,000 pounds). They can eat up to 150 kg (330 pounds) of grass, bark, stems, roots, and leaves in a day, but they also enjoy sugarcane, bananas, and rice. Due to their size, they don’t have natural predators. Unfortunately, humans can be seen as their biggest threat due to cities and villages spreading into their natural habitat. Bengal tigers are known to take down calves because they are small enough to capture. They usually live in small groups of 20 closely related female elephants headed by the matriarch. Male elephants tend to be loners, especially during their early years.
Sumatran Elephant
The Sumatran elephant is the smallest of the three acknowledged Asian elephants; their skin has a universal color with less depigmentation. They are native to Indonesia and live on the Island of Sumatra. They live primarily in rainforests but occasionally travel to rivers or hills depending on their needs. They enjoy eating fruits, seeds, leaves, and grass and drink up to 200 liters (52 gallons) of water daily. They are critically endangered, and humans are the main culprits for their decline. Sumatran tigers are their only natural predators targeting baby elephants who wander off from the herd.
