Post by Shadowcat on Aug 16, 2009 15:02:17 GMT -6
Week 1
8/16/09
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Proboscidea
Family: Elephantidae
Genus: Loxodonta
Species: Loxodonta africana
Status: Near Threatened
Diet: Herbivore that eats all types of vegetation such as grasses, leaves, fruits, and bark
Gestation: 22-24 months
Sexual Maturity:
Male - 10-20 years (bulls)
Female - 10-11 years (cows)
Life Span: Up to 70 years
Range: sub-Saharan Africa; There is a distinct sub-species, the forest elephant, found in the tropical forests of central Africa.
Habitat: Found in forests, grasslands, marshes, scrub, and semi-desert areas
8/16/09
African Bush Elephant
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Proboscidea
Family: Elephantidae
Genus: Loxodonta
Species: Loxodonta africana
Status: Near Threatened
The African Bush Elephant is the largest living land-dwelling animal, normally reaching 6 to 7.3 meters (19.7 to 24.0 feet) in length and 3 to 3.5 meters (9.8 to 11.5 feet) in height at the shoulder, and weighing between 6,000 and 9,000 kg (13,228-19,843 lb). The largest on record, shot in Angola in 1955, was a bull weighing 12,274 kg (27,060 lb) and standing 4.2 meters (13.8 ft) high. At this size you would think these are slow creatures, and they are when moving at their normal speed of 4mph. However, at top speeds they can reach up to 25mph.
Diet: Herbivore that eats all types of vegetation such as grasses, leaves, fruits, and bark
Gestation: 22-24 months
Sexual Maturity:
Male - 10-20 years (bulls)
Female - 10-11 years (cows)
Life Span: Up to 70 years
Range: sub-Saharan Africa; There is a distinct sub-species, the forest elephant, found in the tropical forests of central Africa.
Habitat: Found in forests, grasslands, marshes, scrub, and semi-desert areas
Fun Facts
- Elephants live in a highly organized social structure referred to as a matriarchal herd. The herd is typically composed of up to ten females and their young. All of the females in the herd are directly related to the matriarch, who is typically the oldest and largest female. Males beyond the age of maturity are with the herd only during mating.
- African elephants are capable of making a wide variety of vocal sounds, such as grunts, purrs, bellows, whistles, and the obvious trumpeting. Elephants are also capable of making low frequency sounds that are below the human range of hearing; this allows wandering individuals within the herd as well as several different herds to stay in direct contact over distances of many miles.
- The most obvious characteristic of elephants, besides their massive size, is their trunk. The trunk is nothing more than an elongation of their nose and upper lip. Besides being used for breathing and smelling it is also used as an appendage, much like an arm or hand. Elephants are capable of pulling up to 11.5 liters (3 gallons) of water into the trunk to be sprayed into the mouth for drinking or onto the back for bathing. They also use two finger-like projections that are at the tip to manipulate small objects and to pluck grasses.
- Female elephants are one of the few mammals other than humans who live beyond their reproductive years. The typical cow will end her reproductive period between 45-50 years. During this post-reproductive time she assists with the care of other young.
- Elephants have the longest gestation period of any mammal at 22-24 months. The female then gives birth to a single 90 cm high calf which weighs more than 100 kg. The baby feeds on the mothers milk until the age of 5, but also eats solid food from as early as 6 months old. Just a few days after birth, the calf can follow the herd by foot.
- Human encroachment into or adjacent to natural areas where Bush Elephants occur has led to recent research into methods of safely driving groups of elephants away from humans, including the discovery that playback of the recorded sounds of angry honey bees are remarkably effective at prompting elephants to flee an area.
- African elephant ears are much larger as compared to their Asian cousins, and some say the ears are shaped like the African continent.
- African elephants are less hairy than their Asian counterparts.
- The trunk of an adult African elephant is about 7 feet long. It is said to be capable of killing a lion.
- The foot of an elephant is spongy at the bottom and has 4 or 5 toenails. The pad absorbs the impact at it strides along.
- An elephant thick skin looks tough but its actually sensitive and the animal keeps itself free from pests by rolling in mud and flinging dust on itself. This also helps block the harmful UV light rays from the sun.
Why not create one of these amazing creatures today?
