African elephant

Description

It is characterised by its huge size. Its enormous head has two large ears that help it regulate its body temperature and to communicate, and its trunk serves as an extra limb with which to reach for food, drink, shower and even lift over 200 kg thanks to the 100,000 muscles that comprise it. Its thick legs have 4 toenails on the front foot and three on the back. 

Ethology

They are very intelligent and sociable animals that live in groups of 30-40 individuals formed by females and their calves. They are led by a matriarch that tends to be the eldest female, who guides the group to sources of water over very long migrations. Males tend to be solitary on the other hand. Faced with a threat, they will form a protective circle around the calves.

Interesting facts

This emblematic animal is the heaviest of the terrestrial species and the second tallest, but also one of the slowest, as they walk at a pace of 6 km/h, although they can reach 40 km/h when they run. They eat 100 kg of fruit and vegetables each day and drink about 190 L of water. The populations are affected by ivory hunting and habitat fragmentation, which hinders their migratory routes.