| African Bush Elephant | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| Range | Central and Southern Africa |
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Proboscidea |
| Family | Elephantidae |
| Genus | Loxodonta |
| Species | L. africana |
| Conservation Status | |
 Vulnerable | |
The African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) is a species from the Proboscidean order.
Etymology[]
The word "elephant" comes from Middle English which is from Old French elefant which is from Latin elephantus which is from the Ancient Greek genitive of elephas: elephantos which is from an Afroasiatic source (probably from Egyptian ꜣbw).
Appearance[]
The African bush elephant is the largest living terrestrial animal, with males reaching 6 to 7.5 metres in length,3.3 metres in height at the shoulder, and weighing 7 t. Females are much smaller, reaching 5.4 to 6.9 metres in length, 2.7 metres in height at the shoulder, and weighing 3 t. The largest on record, shot in Angola in 1955, was a bull weighing 12,274 kg and standing 4.2 metres high, the body of which is now mounted in the rotunda of the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.. The African bush elephant normally moves at a rate of 6 km/h , but it can reach a top speed of 40 km/h when scared or upset.
Behaviour[]
The African bush elephant is an intelligent animal. Experiments with reasoning and learning show that it is one of the smartest mammals together with their Asian cousins.
Diet[]
The African bush elephant is herbivorous. Its diet varies according to its habitat; elephants living in forests, partial deserts, and grasslands all eat different proportions of herbs and tree or shrubbery leaves.
Lifespan[]
50-70 years
Subspeices[]
South African Bush Elephant
Gallery[]
Videos[]
Facts[]
- The African bush elephant is the largest living terrestrial animal.
- African elephants have at least 25 types of calls that they use to comunicate.
- The African bush elephant or savanna elephant can live up to 60 years old.