African Elephant Facts for Kids . It is characterized by its highly dexterous trunk, long curved tusks, and massive ears. A combination of the upper lip and nose, an African elephant’s trunk is extremely versatile. Elephants use their trunk for smelling, breathing, detecting vibrations, caressing their young, sucking up water, and grasping objects.
The tip of their trunk is comprised of two opposable extensions, or fingers, which allow for extreme dexterity. Both male and female elephants possess tusks, which are modified incisor teeth. Although tusks are present at birth, the “baby tusks” fall out after a year, and permanent ones replace them. These tusks will continue to grow throughout the elephant’s life. Similar to the trunk, elephant tusks are utilized in a wide range of activities. They are used for digging, foraging, and fighting. At times, they also act as a resting place for the elephant’s very heavy trunk.
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An African elephant’s large ears also serve many purposes. The ears’ large surface area helps radiate excess heat under the harsh African sun. The ears are also often used to communicate visually.
Flapping their ears can signify either aggression or joy. And finally, elephants’ ears, used in conjunction with the soles of their feet and their trunk, aid in the ability to hear sounds over long distances.
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On average, an elephant can hear another elephant’s call at 4 km (2. Under ideal conditions, their range of hearing can be increased to 1. Although elephants can make a very wide range of sounds (1. In fact, elephants are capable of producing and perceiving sounds one to two octaves lower than the human hearing limit. As lower frequency sounds travel farther than their higher counterparts, their range of communication is extensive. Furthermore, elephants have the ability to judge the distance from another elephant based on the pitch of his/her call. As the sound travels over distances, the higher tones will fade out, leaving a lower pitch.
Communication is vital to elephants, who rely on a social network for survival. The sustaining social unit is a herd of mothers and their young, sisters, and female cousins, led by an older matriarch. Male elephants will leave the herd at around 1. They then join a loose- knit band of other bull elephants, leaving the bachelor herd at will to search for potential mates. Upon successful mating, the male elephant will move on to other herds, and the female will start a 2. When the calf is born, aunts, sisters, and cousins all help care for the newborn.
- Little Critter, Big Attitude. Meerkats live in underground burrows in large groups of up to 30 individuals called a gang or a mob. The mob is made up of several.
- Just Call Them "Ginormous" Adult African elephants are huge. Males can weigh as much as a school bus! Even their teeth are big–an adult's molar is the size of a brick.
- The cheetah is a fast but timid predator. Cheetahs usually prey on small antelopes such as Thomson's gazelles and impalas, but they also hunt small mammals and birds.
- African animals list with pictures and facts. Click on the pictures to discover more about the animals. Africa is home to many of the world’s most famous animals.
- Male elephants are called bulls and females are called cows. After mating, the cow will be pregnant for around 22 months. When the baby elephant is finally born, it.
In this way, all the elephants of the herd learn essential lessons in rearing a baby. And since elephants only give birth once every 5 years, successfully raising their offspring is critical to their survival. Aside from their ability to learn through watching and mimicking, African elephants also possess other very human qualities. Their great capacity for compassion is demonstrated as they care for the wounded and grieve the deceased. Their developed sense of memory allows them not only to remember lost loved ones, but also to harbor grudges, and recognize long- lost friends. Upon the return of a friend, elephants take part in a joyous greeting ceremony where they spin in circles, flap their ears, and trumpet. Having adapted to life across Africa’s diverse ecosystems, the African elephant plays a vital role in maintaining ecological harmony.
African elephants ingest plants and fruits, walk for miles, and excrete the seeds in fertile dung piles. In this way, new plants can grow in different areas and can cross fertilize. In fact, 9. 0 different tree species rely on the elephant for propagation.
![African Bush Elephant Diet In Zoo African Bush Elephant Diet In Zoo](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/93/ed/d5/93edd55dd0ca33490ab014748d5ac510--pictures-of-wild-animals-animal-pictures.jpg)
African elephants also dig holes to expose underground springs. This allows smaller animals to access water in drier times. Conservation Status. As African elephants act as a keystone species, it is vital to take steps in their conservation.
Poaching and urban sprawl pose a massive threat to their survival. As such, the African elephant is classified as a vulnerable species under IUCN’s Red List. What You Can Do to Help.
There are several ways to help support African elephants. One way is to participate in eco- tourism. Boosting Africa’s economy through eco- tourism helps placate local residents who view elephants as pests. The illegal ivory trade has skyrocketed in recent years. Decreasing the demand for ivory is essential. Never buy, sell, or wear ivory.
Write to your politicians to speak out against poaching. Boycott circuses, whose unethical treatment includes chaining elephants up by their feet and trunks, as well as beating them frequently. Encourage zoos to create environments similar to African elephants’ native habitat. They should be able to encompass elephant families and their travel patterns, and they should be located in a warm climate so that the elephants can spend all year outside.
African Elephant Distribution. African elephants inhabit various ecosystems in sub- Saharan Africa. Elephant Resources.
More Elephant Stuff from Animal Fact Guide. You Might Also Like. Blog Posts about the African Elephant. World Elephant Day - August 1. VIDEO: Baby Elephant Playing with Birds - July 3. Featured Quiz: African Animals - September 1. World Elephant Day - August 1.
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About the Author. Abi Cushman is a lifelong animal lover and the editor- in- chief of Animal Fact Guide. She not only writes and edits articles, she also creates animal illustrations for the site. Follow her on Twitter: @abicushman. Last updated on August 2.
Galago - Bush Baby, Tiny African Primate . No one is really sure how the term . This species is a very small primate which has an average size of approximately 5 inches (1. The bush baby has long, fuzzy wool- like fur which can be either a shade of silvery gray or brown. Their ears are very large with four ridges which allow them to bend back easily and wrinkle up. They also have characteristically large eyes.
Other interesting characteristics of this species include its advanced hearing, thickened pads on its toes to allow it to cling and climb safely and also its second tongue. This second tongue is situated below their normal tongue and is used specifically in conjunction with their front teeth for grooming. It’s interesting to think the bush baby has evolved to have an actual appendage designed solely for grooming! The bush baby is especially well known for its amazing jumping abilities. In fact, this species can jump up to 6. Without these special tendons, they would not be able to jump as high as they can because of their comparatively small size.
Bush babies have a gestation period of between 1. The young are born with their eyes half- closed and for the first few days of their life they cannot move independently. After the first few days of life, the mother will carry the infant round in their mouth and puts it down on branches when it is time to feed. There are many different subspecies of bush baby including the Rondo bush baby and Dusky bush baby. They can be found all across Africa and they are a really cuddly looking creature. Of course as a wild animal they are very timid and shy but it can’t hurt to look at them!