African elephant

Loxodonta africana

SUBFAMILY

Elephantinae

TAXONOMY

Loxodonta africana (Blumenbach, 1797), Orange River, South Africa. Two subspecies.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

French: Eléphant d'Afrique, eléphant africain; German: Der Afrikanische Elefant; Spanish: Elefante Africano.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

L. a. africana: weight 4.4–7.7 T (4–7 t), shoulder height 8.2–13 ft (2.5–4 m), back concave; L. a. cyclotis: weight 2.2–4.4 T (2–4t), shoulder height 6–9.8 ft (1.8–3 m), back straighter. Head less high than Asian species and single domed, ears larger and fold back at top, two fingers at end of trunk. Both sexes possess tusks, those of the female being relatively smaller.

DISTRIBUTION

Occurs in about 35 African states. In West Africa, only thinly scattered, small populations remain, mostly L. a. cyclotis; northernmost Sahel population (Mali) probably a western extension of L. a. africana. Central African rainforests: still substantial, largely continuous, populations of L. a. cyclotis. East and southern African savannas down to northernmost Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa (with large hole in central Angola and neighboring areas): L. a. africana.

HABITAT

L. a. africana: woodland, shrub and tree savanna, floodplain grassland, and desert; L. a. cyclotis: evergreen rainforest, moist semi-deciduous forest, woodland, and forest/grassland margins.

BEHAVIOR

L. a. africana, at least historically, had a tendency to aggregate in large herds, especially for seasonal migration. Social matriarchal society.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Daily adult food consumption 220–660 lb (100–300 kg). Molar teeth with fewer, lozenge-shaped enamel bands.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Female signals oestrus by a special walk, with the head held high while looking back over her shoulder, as well as loud vocalizations. In courtship, female's movements include spinning round and leading the male on a mock chase. Males are competitive. Gestation period is 22 months. Birth weight 265 lb (120 kg).

CONSERVATION STATUS

Listed as Endangered by the IUCN, and on CITES Appendix I, except some southern African countries; moved to Appendix II in 2002.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

Hunted for meat and ivory. Rarely domesticated.