The world’s largest animal How many types of elephants (Asian elephant, African elephant, etc.) are there? We will explain its habitat, ecology, characteristics, and lifespan. Elephants are the world’s largest animals, and they are also the most recognizable animals. If you go to a zoo, you can see many elephants, but the reality is that many people don’t know just how many different types there are.
What is an elephant? About basic status
Elephants are a general term for mammals that belong to the order Proboscidea and family Elephantidae. The number of wild elephants is decreasing due to deforestation and other factors. International trade is also restricted by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. They are found in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Africa, and other places. The ones that come to mind are the Asian elephant and the African elephant. The estimated population of many of them is decreasing, and they are the largest of all animals in Japan.
| Japanese（和名） | ゾウ、象 |
| English（英名） | Elephant |
| scientific name(学名) | Elephantidae |
| classification（分類） | Mammalia、Elephantida、Elephantidae 哺乳綱、ゾウ類、ゾウ科 |
| IUCN Status(保全状況) | ENDANGERED |
| Height（身長） | 5.5-6.4m |
| Weight（体重） | 5.8-7.5t |
Features: long nose and big ears
The elephant’s most distinctive feature is its long trunk and large ears. They have a long, muscular snout that is larger than others and can be used dexterously to carry food and water to their mouths. They can also bask in the sun by spraying water on their bodies using their noses. Their large ears allow them to detect enemies far away.
What is the ecology like?
Elephants live in herds with females and their children, and males live alone or in separate groups. The reason for this is that adult animals always surround young animals to protect them from predators such as tigers, humans, and lions. Their lifespan is said to be around 60 to 80 years, with some individuals living longer.
What kind of food do you eat?
Elephants choose and eat grass, leaves, fruits, vegetables, etc. It requires 150 kg of plants and 100 liters of water per day, and requires a large amount of food. For this reason, an adult animal produces an average of 100 kg of feces per day. Due to environmental destruction such as deforestation, elephants cannot obtain the food they need and end up dying.
very high cognitive ability
Elephants have such high cognitive abilities that they can even tell humans apart. They will sweeten and greet people who treat them kindly, and they may crush people who attack them. Elephants are also artists. As you can see in the video below, the elephant is demonstrating the art of painting. It attracted a lot of attention at the event in Thailand.
Elephant Biology and Behavior
This article provides a detailed summary of elephant biology and behavior. Elephants are the largest land mammals, highly social, and highly intelligent. The key points are summarized below.
Social Structure and Behavior
Group Life:
Females and their calves form groups.
Groups typically contain 10-30 individuals.
Males may live alone or form small groups as they grow older.
Communication:
Elephant communication is achieved through low-frequency sounds, touch, and body movements.
Low-frequency sounds can be heard several kilometers away, allowing for long-distance communication.
Intelligence and Learning Ability:
Tool use, maze learning, cooperative behavior.
Excellent memory, able to identify water sources and dangerous areas.
Migration and Behavior Patterns
Eating, drinking, and resting during the day.
Sometimes active at night.
May travel long distances (over tens of kilometers) in search of water and food.
Breeding and Rearing
Gestation Period: Approximately 22 months (one of the longest among mammals).
Give births individually.
Calves are protected by their mothers and other females in the herd and grow through social learning.
They nurse for 2-3 years, growing under the protection of the herd.
Natural Predators/Threats
Elephants have few natural predators in the wild, and leopards and lions occasionally attack calves.
Human poaching (for ivory) and habitat destruction are the biggest threats.
Currently, both African and Asian elephants are listed as endangered.
Notable Behaviors
Mud and Dust Bathing: Protects the skin, regulates body temperature, and removes parasites.
Social and Emotional Behaviors: Touching deceased comrades and engaging in comforting behaviors.
Play and Curiosity: Young elephants often chop down trees and splash around in water.
Elephant History
This article summarizes the history of elephants, from their evolutionary history to their relationship with humans.
Elephant Evolution
Elephants belong to the order Proboscidea, a long-standing order. They are believed to have originated approximately 60 million years ago, during the Eocene epoch of the Cenozoic era.
Major Evolutionary Trends
Early Elephants (such as the Platetherians)
Small, about 1 meter long
Forest-dwelling
Long snouts and large tusks had not yet developed
Myelodonts and Mastodonts (approx. 25 million years ago)
Grown larger, they developed the prototypes of long tusks and snouts
While primarily herbivorous, mastodons lived in forests and ate leaves
Ancestors of Mammoths and Modern Elephants (approx. 5 million years ago)
The direct ancestors of the mammoth (Mammuthus) and modern African and Asian elephants appeared
Hair grew and body fat increased to adapt to cold climates (Mammoth)
Differentiation of Modern Elephants
African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)
Savanna and Forest Types Divide
Large, with large ears, adapted to thermoregulation
Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)
Adapted to forest habitats
Small ears and a relatively small body
*Genetically, African and Asian elephants are believed to have diverged approximately 4 million years ago.
History of Human Interactions
Hunting and Ivory Use (Several Thousands of Years Ago)
Ivory has been used for ornaments and religious purposes since prehistoric times.
Mammoth bones and tusks were also used in the Stone Age.
Domestication and Labor (Approximately 4,000 Years Ago)
Asian elephants were used in warfare and for transport in India and Southeast Asia.
Important war elephants in ancient India, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.
Modern and Contemporary
Commercial ivory poaching expanded in the 19th and 20th centuries.
International conservation efforts began (CITES, etc.).
Extinct and Fossil Species
Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus)
Extinct approximately 4,000 years ago
Hairy and adapted to cold climates
Steppe Mammoth and Colombian Mammoth
Distributed in North America and Eurasia
Mastodon
Extinct approximately 10,000 years ago
Dwelling in forests, with different tooth shapes
Modern elephants are the survivors of these ancient elephants
How many types of elephants are there?
There are three types of elephants: African elephants, Asian elephants, and forest elephants. Originally, there were two types of elephants: African elephants and Asian elephants, but recently, as general research has progressed, forest elephants have come to be recognized as a third species. However, as you can see below, it is only found in tropical regions of Africa and Asia. Unfortunately, all species are listed as endangered.
| Name （名前） | academic name （学名） | body length （体長） | Weight （体重） | Habit （生息地） |
| African elephant アフリカゾウ | Loxodonta africana | 6〜7.5m | ～7.5t | South of the Sahara Desert サハラ砂漠以南 |
| Asian elephant アジアゾウ | Elephas maximus | 5〜6.4m | ～5.4t | Southeast Asia、South Asia 東南アジア、南アジア |
| African forest elephant マルミミゾウ | Loxodonta cyclotis | 4〜6m | 2.7〜6t | West Africa 西アフリカ |
What is an African elephant?
African elephants are African elephants that live south of the Sahara Desert. The auricles are very large and wide and help dissipate heat. Incisors (tusks) are developed in both males and females and are used for digging in the soil and during fights. There are several subspecies of African elephants, and the forest elephant was previously considered to be a subspecies of the African elephant. There is another subspecies called the savannah elephant. The African elephant’s main habitat is the savannah. Both species have been listed on CITES Appendix I since 1975, when CITES came into force. IUCN status is ENDANGERED.
What is an Asian elephant?
Asian elephants are characterized by the fact that the wrinkles on their trunks are not very prominent. The auricles are small, and there are five hooves on the front legs and four hooves on the hind legs. Asian elephants live in the forest areas of Southeast Asia and South Asia and are comprised of four subspecies. They are the Ceylon elephant, Indian elephant, Sumatran elephant, and Bornean elephant. Both species have been listed on CITES Appendix I since 1975, when CITES came into force. IUCN status is CRITICALLY ENDANGERED.
What is forest elephant?
The forest elephant was previously thought to be a member of the African elephant family. It looks very similar to an African elephant. The auricles are small and rounded. There are five hooves on the front legs and four on the hind legs. Forest elephants mainly live in tropical rainforests, and their numbers are declining dramatically due to habitat destruction caused by hunting for ivory and agricultural land development due to population growth. It is also listed in Appendix I of the Washington Convention. IUCN status is CRITICALLY ENDANGERED.
Why have elephants become an endangered species?
African elephants, Asian elephants, and forest elephants are all listed as endangered species. Elephants are animals that are very familiar to humans, and we have had a close relationship with them since ancient times. Why has it become an endangered species? I will explain the cause. This is information that is happening all over the world, and is not just a story in Japan. Each species is at risk of becoming extinct due to human factors rather than natural influences. Conservation efforts are needed.
Overhunting for ivory continues
Ivory is the reason why elephants have been overhunted in large numbers by humans. Ivory is a beautiful material and is highly sought after in the arts, crafts, and manufacturing industries, and sells for a high price. Illegal overhunting of living creatures has progressed in society, and elephants are being killed one after another by humans.
Rapid progress in land development
Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Africa are all experiencing rapid economic development and land development. As I explained above, elephants eat large amounts of grass, so if there are no trees left in any place, it means that they will no longer be able to reproduce and survive.
Can elephants be kept?
Can elephants be kept as pets? It’s very difficult. First of all, all elephants are endangered species and are strictly protected. Also, since they require a large amount of food, it is wise to assume that it would be extremely difficult for ordinary people to keep them as pets. It is safe to view them at a zoo or a local national park. They have a long history and are actively protected by facilities and organizations. The problem of the decline of elephants is often reported in the news.
コメント