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One important reason for elephants flapping their ears is to regulate their body temperature. Elephant ears have an extensive network of blood vessels all over them. When it is hot they flap their ears which cause air to move across them. This in turn cools the surface blood vessels; this cooler blood then circulates around the elephant's body. The temperature of the blood passing through the ears can be reduced by as much as ten degrees Fahrenheit before being returned to the body. Elephants that originated in warmer climates have bigger ears then those that belong in cooler conditions.
They are also used as a display of aggression to make the elephant look bigger in an effort to intimidate predators or rivals. It is also theorised that they are used to fan a scent produced by the musth gland (which is just behind the eyes)
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoTo cool themselves down. Blood flows through the vessels in the elephants ears and when the ears are flapped, the blood gets cooled.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoProbably to cool itself off, or to keep flies off of itself. It flaps its ears when it is hot to cool itself down when it is in the desert.
Wiki User
∙ 7y agoAnimals move their ears so they can hear better.
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How does an elephant use its ears to keep cool?
it flaps it's big ears back and forth to keep cool
How would you use a possessive noun in the phrase the tusks and ears of an elephant?
The possessive form for the tusks and ears of an elephant is the elephant's tusks and ears.
What kind of elephant is the biggest out of Indian and African?
The African elephant has the biggest ears!The type of elephant with the biggest name has the biggest ears, the African elephant (not the Asian elephant). That's how I remember.
How do you rewrite a possessive noun the tusks and ears of the elephant?
The possessive form is "the elephant's tusks and ears".
What animal has the largest ears?
Hello! A lot of animals have large ears, but I'd say that the elephant has large ears.
How does an elephant use its ears to keep cool?
it flaps it's big ears back and forth to keep cool
How does a huge elephant use its big ears to keep cool?
flap them or spray water on there selfs
Why do elephants have long big ears?
African elephants live in a hotter climate than indian or asian elephants. Since elephants don't sweat they flap their ears to cool the blood vessels down as much as 10degrees.The Asian elephant has smaller ears because in Asia there are more trees to keep shade but in Africa there are less trees so the African elephant has to keep cool by swaying his or her ears back and forth to make a breeze.
How do elephants use its huge ears to keep cool?
an elephant uses its ears to keep cool by flapping them around its head therefor keeping it cool
How do an elephants use its huge ears to keep cool?
an elephant uses its ears to keep cool by flapping them around its head therefor keeping it cool
Are elephant ears real elephant ears?
no. Elephant ears are just really big cookies. Do not worry if you tried one!
How would you use a possessive noun in the phrase the tusks and ears of an elephant?
The possessive form for the tusks and ears of an elephant is the elephant's tusks and ears.
Why do dachshunds flap their ears when they wake up?
It is not known why dachshunds flap their ears when they wake up. The most likely reason is to increase blood flow to the ears.
What kind of elephant is the biggest out of Indian and African?
The African elephant has the biggest ears!The type of elephant with the biggest name has the biggest ears, the African elephant (not the Asian elephant). That's how I remember.
Are the ears of an Asian elephant larger than that of the African elephant?
No. The ears of an African elephant are larger than that of the Asian elephants.
What is the difference between an Indian Elephant to African elephant?
An Indian Elephant has small ears which are floppy.An African Elephant has big wide ears which are straight.
Why does an elephant have ears?
All mammals have ears.
