Differences between Asian Elephants and African Elephants.
Elephants aren’t the same if you take a close look at these species way from their outward appearance, being big, having a trunk and tusks.
Differences between Asian Elephants and African Elephants.
- x) Asian elephants are known as Elephas maximus.
- x) Asian Sri Lankan elephants are known as Elephas maximus Maximus.
- x) African savanna elephants are known as Loxodonta Africana.
- x) African forest elephants are known as Loxodonta Cylotis.
1) The Size.
There is a massive size difference between African and Asian elephants, mainly being the shoulder height and weight.
Asian elephants weigh from 3000 Kg to 6000 Kg while African elephants weigh from 4000 Kg to 7000 Kg.
Asian elephants have an average shoulder height of of4 – 4 meters while Asian elephants have an average shoulder height o 2 to 3.5metrs.
African elephants have larger ears too compared to Asian elephants.
2) Food
Asian elephants roam around many wetlands than the African elephants. Asian elephants mainly eat grass while African elephants mainly eat leaves.
3) Skin
Asian elephants have less textured skin compared to African elephants skin is more wrinkled.
4) Tusks
All African male and female elephants have tusks.
Asian elephants have a rare percentage of having tusks.
5) The trunk
African elephant’s trunk is more heavily ringed and isn’t hard as the Asian elephant’s trunk.
African elephants have two fingers in their trunk while Asian elephants have only one finger. Asian elephants compensate for this by holding objects against the underside of the trunk
6) Ribs
The number of ribs in count can completely vary according to the individual animal. but in general African elephants can have up to 21 pairs with Asian only having up to 20.
