African Elephants
Order: Proboscidea; Family: Elephantidae; Species: Loxodonta africana (African savanna elephant) & Loxodonta cyclotis (African forest elephant)
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ADAPTATIONS
- Ears: The ears of the African savanna elephant are the largest of the three elephant species. Their ears assist in body temperature regulation, communication, and for auditory purposes.
- Head Shape and Trunk: African elephants have a single domed head, and their trunk has two finger-like projections that they can use to pick up small objects.
- Tusks: Both male and female African elephants have tusks that are continuously growing incisor teeth. They are used for defense, stripping bark or branches, and digging.
- Skin: African elephants have deep wrinkles that increase surface area to enable their skin to retain moisture that helps them thermoregulate in their environment. Wallowing in mud and dusting keeps them cool and their skin healthy.
- Teeth: African elephant teeth have diamond-shaped loops, which gives their scientific name Loxodonta africana.
- Social Structure: African elephant family groups, or herds, tend to be larger than the family herds of Asian elephants. Herd size depends on the food and water resources in their area.
- Elephants communicate using low-frequency, infrasonic sounds. These sounds can travel far, which can help family groups communicate over long distances.
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WHERE IN THE WORLD?
African savanna elephants live in habitats ranging from open grasslands to forested regions. Their distribution spans 24 African countries below the Sahara, with their range continuously fragmented due to habitat loss. African forest elephants inhabit 20 African countries in forests along the equator. Their native range has been highly fragmented, with most of their population in six central African countries. While minimal, distribution between both species can overlap in some gallery forest regions. |
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African savanna elephant
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African Savanna vs. Forest Elephants
Based on available evidence, the base of the “elephant family tree” are pig-sized mammals approximately 50-60 million years ago. The African forest elephant is considered more primitive than the African savanna elephant. African savanna elephants are taller, darker skinned with more hair, and have triangular-shaped ears. With more rounded ears, African forest elephants have straighter and more slender tusks. Behaviorally, as their name suggests, African savanna elephants live primarily on the savanna, while African forest elephants are forest-dwelling. |
African forest elephant
© Hervé Morand / WWF
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Quick Stats
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African Savanna Elephants
Up to 14,000 pounds (6350 kgs) 8-14 feet (2.4m-4.2m) Around 10-12 years About 660 days 1 calf; 2 calves have been documented (rare) 3-5 years Primarily a browser Approximately 50 |
Weight Height Sexual maturity Gestation period Number of young Birth interval Typical diet Life expectancy |
African Forest Elephants
Up to 10,000 pounds (4536 kgs) 6-10 feet (1.8m-3m) Around 14-17 years About 660 days 1 3-5 years Primarily a browser & frugivore in the forests of western and central Africa Approximately 50 |
Conservation
In 2019, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assessed African elephant populations and listed African savanna elephants as “Endangered” and African forest elephants as “Critically Endangered” under criteria A2bd and A2abd (respectively) for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This is the first assessment to separate the two species of African elephant. Specifically addressing population declines and habitat loss due to human population expansion, the IUCN suggests the trending decline is likely to be irreversible.
For more information regarding the IUCN’s assessment of the African savanna elephant wild population, click here.
For more information regarding the IUCN’s assessment of the African forest elephant wild population, click here.
In 2019, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assessed African elephant populations and listed African savanna elephants as “Endangered” and African forest elephants as “Critically Endangered” under criteria A2bd and A2abd (respectively) for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This is the first assessment to separate the two species of African elephant. Specifically addressing population declines and habitat loss due to human population expansion, the IUCN suggests the trending decline is likely to be irreversible.
For more information regarding the IUCN’s assessment of the African savanna elephant wild population, click here.
For more information regarding the IUCN’s assessment of the African forest elephant wild population, click here.