Asian Elephant

The Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) is a species of elephant formerly known as the Indian Elephant. It is smaller than its African relatives, and the easiest way to distinguish the two is the smaller ears of the Asian Elephant. Asian elephants tend to grow to around two to four meters (7-12 feet) in height and 3,000-5,000 kilograms (6,500-11,000 pounds) in weight.

Related Topics:
Elephant - African - Asia - Meter - Feet - Kilogram - Pound

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Asian Elephants have other differences from their African relatives, including a more arched back than the African, one semi-prehensile "finger" at the tip of their trunk as opposed to two, 4 nails on each hind foot instead of three, and 19 pairs of ribs instead of 21. Also, unlike female African Elephants, female Asian Elephants lack tusks.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This animal is widely domesticated, and has been used in forestry in Southeast Asia for centuries. Wild elephants attract tourist money to the areas where they can most readily be seen, but damage crops and may enter villages to raid gardens. Historical sources point out they were sometimes used during the harvest season primarily for milling.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~