Scientific Name: Elephas maximus
Weight: 4,400 to 12,000 pounds
Body Length: 18 to 21 feet
Height: 6 to 12 feet tall at the shoulder
Gestation Period: 18 to 22 months
Life Span: 60 to 70 years
Interesting Facts:
- The Asian Elephant is the largest land mammal on the Asian continent.
- They are extremely sociable, forming groups of six to seven related females that are led by the oldest female, the matriarch.
- Elephants can use low-frequency sound waves for communication between members of the herd and individuals outside the herd and can carry these sounds for distances of up to 10 miles.
- Their trunks contain around 100,000 muscles and can be used for tasks as delicate as picking up small objects or as powerful as uprooting trees.
