ASIAN ELEPHANTS by
Kakaji 2013/08/14 23:21
Asian Elephants
*Asian elephants are huge gray animals inhabiting Asian tropical forests. Their gray coloration conceals them in their shady habitat. Elephants' trunks, unique among living mammals, are versatile, enabling them to reach the ground, manipulate tiny objects or tear down huge tree limbs, squirt water over their backs or into their mouths, or blow dirt onto their backs during dust baths. Female Asian elephants usually lack visible tusks as do males in some populations, such as those in northeast India. Wide, padded feet enable them to walk quietly. Large, flappable ears help these huge animals cool off, although elephants often must retreat to the shade or water during the hottest part of the day.
*Asian elephants grow up to 21 feet long, stand up to 10 feet tall, and weigh up to 11,000 pounds. Females reach around eight and a half feet tall and weigh less than males. Despite their size, elephants are able to walk silently.
Kakaji 2013/08/14 23:25
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FUN FACTS:
Asian elephants can tear down trees or pick up a blade of grass with their trunks.
Elephants have the largest brain of any land mammal. In fact, of all land mammals, they have the greatest volume of cerebral cortex available for cognitive processing.
An elephants trunk has more than 40,000 muscles, more than all the muscles in a human body!
Asian elephants have a gestation period of almost 22 monthsthe longest of any animal. Calves often nurse for two to four years.
Asian elephants communicate via rumbles, bellows, and moans. They also emit low-frequency infrasounds that can travel several miles.
Along with dolphins and great apes, Asian elephants are the only animals known to recognize themselves in a mirror.
Kakaji 2013/08/14 23:29
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