What are the features of elephant?

          The largest animals on land today, elephants share the same distant ancestor as the manatees and dugongs. They are famous for their huge size, their tusks and of course, their long trunks.

          The strong, flexible trunk is actually an extended nose and top lip. Though mainly used for feeding, it is also useful for bathing and for communicating with others through touch. Using its trunk, an elephant can reach down to the ground to drink or up into the trees to pull down branches.

          Elephants feed on all types of plant material including grasses, leaves, branches and fruits. They pick up food or suck up water with their trunks and put it into their mouths. They can also spray water over their backs to cool themselves off. The tusks (actually long front teeth) are used to dig for roots or peel bark from trees, and also as weapons in fights between males.

          Elephants can live for up to 60 years in the wild—almost as long as humans. Many roam the open grasslands of Africa, but others live in forests or mountainous areas. Female elephants stay in family groups led by the oldest female, while males travel alone or in small bands.

          There are two kinds of elephants: African and Asian elephants. African elephants are larger than Asian elephants, with bigger ears and a less rounded back. Asian elephants have been used by humans for thousands of years to carry heavy loads. They are still used today in the logging industry.

Picture Credit : Google