They’re enormous and intelligent, strong and sociable. Humans have been impressed by elephants for centuries, simply because they are so big—a male African elephant can weigh up to 7.5 tons (6.8 metric tons)! They also amaze us with their long and flexible noses, large and flapping ears, and loose, wrinkly skin. There are many stories about elephants—you’ve probably heard of Horton, Babar, and Dumbo. Elephants are one of the best-known animals in the world. - See more at: http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/elephant#sthash.2yZpmhUU.dpuf
Elephants are large and gray and have big ears and long trunks, right? If all elephants seem the same to you, take a closer look. There are two elephant species that are usually recognized: the African elephant and the Asian elephant. There is some ongoing debate about how many subspecies may exist, or whether some of these might, in fact, be species in their own right. Here are a few ways to tell them apart: - See more at: http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/elephant#sthash.2yZpmhUU.dpuf