Elephants are mammals and is the largest land animal in the world. There are two species of Elephants in the world today is the Asian Elephant (formerly known as the Indian Elephant) and the African Elephant. African Elephants are the largest land animal in the world. Throughout the year there were 55 million 500 species of Elephants are known and only two extant species of Asian Elephants and African Elephants. Species of Asian elephant and African elephant began to break up about two million years ago.
Asian Elephants is different than the African elephant. Asian Elephants have smaller ears less than the African elephant, has a flat forehead, and two bulbs in the elephant head is the highest peak, compared with the African elephant has only one hump on the head. In addition, the tip of the Asian elephant's trunk has only one lip, while the African elephant has two lips at the end of the trunk. Both sexes have the African elephant ivory while only male Asian Elephants have tusks are clearly visible.
Of all species of mammals, Elephants have the longest gestation period. This friendly giant animals contain more than 18 months.The average gestation period of Elephants between 640 up to 660 days or about 95 weeks. For comparison, the average human pregnancy lasts 280 days or 40 weeks. As quoted from Life Little Mysteries, female Elephants can live to 60 or 70 years old. However, during his lifetime, they can only have four children. Although generally only contain a single elephant cubs at a time, there were approximately 1-2 percent of the elephant gave birth to twins.
Interestingly, when an elephant giving birth, the other Elephants in the group to form a protective circle around the mother elephant that gave birth to take care during the birth process takes place.
At birth, the baby elephant generally has a weight weighing 120 kilograms. When born, he was in a condition almost entirely blind and rely only on the trunk to see the world around him.
Although capable of living up to 70 years, the longest record of age of an elephant ever recorded was 82 years old.
In terms of food, Elephants are herbivores. He spent 16 hours a day to collect food crops. The food consists of at least 50% grass, coupled with leaves, twigs, roots, and a little fruit, seeds and flowers. Because Elephants only digest 40% of which he ate, they must consume large amounts of food. Adult elephant can consume 300 to 600 pounds (140-270 kg) of food per day. Sixty percent of the food left in the elephant's body and not digested.
Elephants live in a structured social order. Social life of male and female are different. Females spent nearly his entire life within a family group consisting of mother, daughter, sister, and aunt. The group is led by the oldest female. While adult male spent time in the life of its own (no groups).
Today Elephants are almost extinct animals. It was in pity, Animals should be protected, instead becomes the most hunted animals for ivory is expensive. Pity.
