The Elephant

Did you know that there are two different types of elephants? There is the African elephant and the Asian elephant. African elephants are the biggest land animals, and Asian elephants are the next biggest. Elephants are very social animals and live in groups. Female elephants head the groups. Only occasionally will a male elephant take charge of a group.

It’s hard to imagine, but elephants are very good swimmers. This seems unusual because elephants are such big animals. Elephants can get as big as 10 feet tall and weigh about 6 tons! Male elephants are usually bigger than females. They have gray or brownish wrinkled skin that has almost no hair. Elephants are also known for their big ears. They can hear very well with these ears. These ears also help the elephant cool off.

The elephant breathes through the nostrils at the end of its very long trunk. The trunk is also used to get water and food. The elephant uses its trunk to suck up the water that is then shot into its mouth. The trunk also gathers food and brings it to the mouth. Elephants use their trunks similarly to the way that we use our hands. Elephants are herbivores, eating mostly roots, grasses, leaves, fruit, and tree bark. They use their tusks along with their trunks to get their food.