Asian Elephant

Overview

The Asian elephant, also known as the Asiatic elephant, is the only living species in the genus Elephas. It is the largest living land animal in Asia and the second largest living elephantid in the world. It is characterised by its long trunk with a single finger-like process; large tusks in males; laterally folded large ears and wrinkled gray skin that is partly depigmented on the trunk, ears or neck. Adult males average 4 t in weight and females 2.7 t. It has a large and well developed neocortex of the brain, is highly intelligent and self-aware, being able to display behaviors associated with grief, learning and greeting. Three subspecies are recognized—E. m. maximus, E. m. indicus and E. m. sumatranus.