african forest elephant fun facts
Since African elephants live where the sun is usually blazing hot, they use their trunks to help them keep cool. African forest elephants are the smallest elephant species. They can only reach the height of 8.2 feet. The rate of seed germination of many forest plant species increases significantly after passage through an elephant’s gut. Elephants can use their trunks as snorkels when crossing deep rivers. The African elephant is the largest animal walking the Earth. Every dog should have a collar. A baby African Forest Elephant is called a calf. African forest elephants have smaller ears in comparison to the African bush elephants. How many species of African Forest Elephant are there? They will make habitats in lowland tropical rainforests. The African bush elephant normally has 4 to… African elephants use their acute sense of hearing and smell to find food. It has four or five toes. This species of Elephant normally has five toenails which is one more than you would see with an African Bush Elephant. How many African Forest Elephants are left in the world? 1. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. During the dry season, they use their tusks to dig up dry riverbeds and create watering holes many animals can drink from. African Forest Elephants are slightly smaller than African Bush Elephants, but they’re still one of the largest animals on land today. African elephants can be differentiated from Asian elephants from their more wrinkled skin, their … The African savanna elephant is the world’s largest land animal. They are easily recognized by their trunk that is used for communication and handling objects. Males are generally fairly solitary but females and their young form small family groups known as herds. Sadly, due to an increase of outside interest in Africa and its exotic wonders, the African Forest Elephant population took a devastating decline towards extinction. They are larger than the other African elephant species, the African forest elephant. They weigh between 4 and 7 tonnes (4.4-7.7tons). Also known as “ecosystem engineers,” elephants shape their habitat in many ways. Loxodonte, which points out its lozenge-shaped molar teeth enamel, was the generic name … However, the front pair of molars in the mouth of the African Forest Elephant wear down and drop out in pieces, making the back pair shift forward and two new molars emerge in the back of the African Forest Elephant’s mouth. Although hard to imagine because of their size, they are herbivores. Males are from 2.4 to 3 meters (7.9 to 9.8 feet) tall at the shoulder while females are smaller at about 1.8 to 2.4 m (5.9 to 7.9 ft) tall at the shoulder. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. They reach a weight of 2–4 tonnes (2.2–4.4 short tons). To differentiate the African forest elephant from other elephant species, it is important to remember that the African forest elephant is recognizable by its large, straight, pink … What family do African Forest Elephants belong to? ORIGIN. Then it curls its trunk under, sticks the tip of its trunk into its mouth, and blows. Lately scientists considered African bush elephants and African forest elephants as one species. African Forest Elephants have large rounded ears to help keep them cool! Today, although slightly recovering in certain areas, African Forest Elephant populations are still threatened from increasing levels of illegal poaching and habitat destruction. Like other elephants, African forest elephants are also herbivores. African Forest Elephant Interesting Facts and Features The tusks of the African Forest Elephant are pretty straight instead of curved to help them move through the thick jungle with greater ease. Each group consists of 3 – 5 individuals. They are most commonly founds in the tropical dense jungles, where their smaller size allows them to move through the thick vegetation more easily than the larger African Bush Elephant. African Forest Elephants belong to the Kingdom Animalia. They will make habitats in lowland tropical rainforests. They reach the maturity at 8 – 12 years age. Top Ten African Elephant Facts The tip of the African elephant trunk has two opposable extensions which act like fingers. What is an interesting fact about African Forest Elephants? Fruits and seeds make up much of the elephant’s diet. In 1980, there were an estimated 380,000 African Forest Elephants but due to growing Human populations in their native countries, numbers have fallen to 200,000. Although the two species are very similar, the African Forest Elephant has rounder ears, straighter tusks, and more toenails than the African Bush Elephant. The African forest elephant is the smallest of the three living elephant species. The African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) is one of the smallest elephants in the world. The African Forest Elephant has no real natural predators to threaten its survival, mainly due to the African forest elephant’s sheer size. African … When an elephant drinks, it sucks as much as 2 gallons (7.5 liters) of water into its trunk at a time. Elephants are born with ‘baby tusks’ which fall out and are replaced with permanent adult tusks which grown throughout life. The tusks of the African Forest Elephant are pretty straight instead of curved to help them move through the thick jungle with greater ease. What Kingdom do African Forest Elephants belong to? It is the smallest species of them all. View all of the African Forest Elephant images! African elephant conservation efforts are underway throughout the world, but every once in a while african elephant communities grow too large and need to be culled to preserve the ecosystem. African Forest Elephants belong to the family Elephantidae. Deforestation and therefore loss of its natural habitat is one of the biggest threats to the African Forest Elephant, along with poaching. The African forest elephant is a herbivore (plant eater) and commonly eats leaves, grass, fruit, and bark, and sometimes visits to places where it can lick salt. African Forest Elephants are also constantly threatened by poachers hunting the Elephants for their ivory tusks. The African Elephants Have Two Fingers At Its Trunk’s Ends. How many babies do African Forest Elephants have? The African Forest Elephant is one of two Elephant subspecies on the African continent. What is the lifespan of an African Forest Elephant? African Bush Elephants Live in the Savanna, Deserts, and Rainforest. What are some predators of African Forest Elephants? Female African Forest Elephants reach sexual maturity (are able to reproduce) after 10 or 11 years, and male African Forest Elephants often don’t reach sexual maturity until they are nearly 20 years old. What is the scientific name for the African Forest Elephant? Elephants are the largest existing land animals, and … A unique asp… Males are from 2.4 to 3 meters (7.9 to 9.8 feet) tall at the shoulder while females are smaller at about 1.8 to 2.4 m (5.9 to 7.9 ft) tall at the shoulder. What is a baby African Forest Elephant called? The African forest elephant is one of the two living African elephant species. The African Forest Elephant mainly lives in central and southern Africa in nomadic herds that wander through the forests and grasslands of Africa grazing for food and searching for waterholes. African Forest Elephants live in forests, savannas, and floodplains. African Forest Elephants belong to the phylum Chordata. African Forest Elephants have four molar teeth each weighing about 5.0 kg and measuring about 12 inches long. However, the largest of these male elephants can weigh anywhere up to 13,000 pounds! Compared to the Asian elephant, the African elephant is taller, has larger ears and is more difficult to domesticate. Population. However the studies suggest that both species separated 2 – 7 million years ago. The elephant’s trunk is very strong and can lift objects up to 3% of their body weight (strong enough to make our list of strongest animals). The scientific name for the African Forest Elephant is Loxodonta cyclotis. They are thinner, straighter and shorter than the tusks of the African Bush Elephant. Generally elephants do not seem to have any natural predator in the wild habitat. The average weight of a baby elephant is about 230 pounds. This hybrid dog is also known as a Doxador or a Weinerdor. After a gestation period of up to 2 years, the female African Forest Elephant gives birth to a single calf (twins have been known but are extremely rare). On average, elephants can here calls of others from 2.5 miles (4 kilometres away). Males are larger than females. Are African Forest Elephants herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores? A male African Forest elephant touches a female to see if she is ready to mate. Their herds wander through 37 countries in Africa. Skin: The skin of the elephants look very tough but they are actually very sensitive. This allows the more vulnerable offspring to be more easily protected. The tusks of an African Forest Elephant can grow to nearly 1.5 meters long and generally weigh between 50 and 100 pounds, which is about the same as a small adult Human. There are 200,000 African Forest Elephants left in the world. It eats a high proportion of fruit and disperses the seed over long distances through it's dung. Pets Home Guide Praying Mantis Polar Bear Facts Possum Facts, Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions Disclaimer, Great Horned Owl Tasmanian Devil Siberian Tiger, Animals Answers Golden Retriever Breed Animals Diet Recliners Guide, Cookie Cutter Shark Facts for Kids – Cookie Cutter Shark Interesting Facts, Greenland Shark Facts for Kids – Greenland Shark Interesting Facts & Information, Megalodon Shark Facts for Kids – Megalodon Shark Facts and Information, Tasmanian Devil Facts for Kids – Fun Facts & Information, Wedge Tailed Eagle Facts for Kids – Australian Wedge Tailed Eagle Facts, Harpy Eagle Facts for Kids – Harpy Eagle Fun Facts, Elephant Facts for Kids – Largest Land Mammals, Swamp Wallaby Facts – Amazing Facts and Information. It lives in family groups of up to 20 individuals. The male African forest elephant rarely grows more than 2.5 metres (8 ft) in height, while the African bush elephant is usually over 3 metres (just under 10 feet) and sometimes almost 4 metres (13 ft) tall. Predators of African Forest Elephants include humans, lions, and hyenas. Despite African Forest Elephants being able to communicate with one another through a couple of miles of dense jungle, the sound they make is so low that it cannot be heard by Humans. Standing between 2.5 – 4 metres on the shoulder, the African elephant is the largest living land mammal on earth. Elephants are the largest existing land animals. # 2. They are an essential tool in the spreading of seeds throughout Africa’s forests and are therefore vital to the running of their native ecosystems. It has two distinct finger-like things at … African Forest elephants are found in lowland tropical and subtropical rainforests and woodlands of central western Africa. African Forest Elephants are covered in Leathery skin. They have large rounded ears which are used both for hearing and to keep them cool. They are larger than their relative the Asian elephant. Forest elephants are an elusive subspecies of African elephants and inhabit the densely wooded rainforests of west and central Africa. Like other elephants, African forest elephants are also herbivores. What genus do African Forest Elephants belong to? The African Forest Elephant is also called the African elephant. They will also use their trunks in defense. This, along with their pinkish tinge, has made the ivory of the African Forest Elephant’s tusks in high demand on the black market. The African forest elephant prefers to live in places where the daytime temperature reaches 120o C. Unlike African bush elephants, the African forest elephant as relatively straighter and narrower tusks. But further study revealed enough variation to warrant subspecies status. Does my dog need a collar? Below are some fun facts about the smallest African Elephant: The African Forest Elephant! Adult African forest elephants are smaller than the bush elephants. In addition to the African elephant and the Asian elephant there exists a third elephant species: the African forest elephant. The length of the tusk is measured at 1.5 meters. As you might imagine, prehistoric creatures could fill out a list all by themselves, […] Read More. Fun Facts The African bush elephants are more gigantic than the African forest elephants that are mostly smaller, with massive ear and tusks that grow downward. African forest elephants occur in northern Congo, southwestern Central African Republic, the southeast coast of Gabon, southern Ghana and Cote D'Ivoire. Fun Facts for Kids. There are three distinct species of elephant left in the world: The Asian elephant and, in Africa, the forest and savannah elephant species. Deforestation of their habitats and the illegal poaching of the African Forest Elephant for their ivory are also to blame for their recent demise. There’s an easy way to tell the African elephants apart from their Asian cousins – their ears! They reach a weight of 2–4 tonnes (2.2–4.4 short tons). Elephants, the planet’s largest terrestrial mammal, are fascinating creatures that are worth getting to understand. The animal keeps … However, it is not uncommon for large carnivores such as Lions and Hyenas to pick out a calf that has strayed from the herd or an adult that is more vulnerable from ill health or old age. Forest elephants dwell in the rain forest of central and western Africa and do not cross the province of the Savannah elephants. African Elephant and African Forest Elephant – the Differences. It is at this point that the tusks of the African Forest Elephant calf will be starting to grow. Click through all of our African Forest Elephant images in the gallery. The biggest threats to the African Forest Elephant are poaching and habitat loss. African Forest Elephants belong to the genus Loxodonta. African Forest Elephants belong to the order Proboscidea. Unique Species. The African forest elephant is the smallest of the three living elephant species. Elephants are herbivores. What is the biggest threat to the African Forest Elephant? African Forest Elephant Habitat. An African Forest Elephant can travel at speeds of up to 24 miles per hour. They weigh up to 5,950 pounds. It is the smallest of the three living elephant species, reaching a shoulder height of 2.4 m. Both sexes have straight, down-pointing tusks, which erupt when they are 1–3 years old. African bush elephants can weigh as much as 22,000 lbs. … An African elephant tusk can weigh anywhere between 23 and 45 kg and grow up to 2.4 m long. The African Forest Elephant calf is nursed for 2 years and will remain with the herd until it is old enough to support itself. The two main african elephant species are the African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis). David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2011) Animal, The Definitive Visual Guide To The World's Wildlife, Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals, David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia, Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species, David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals, Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals, David W. Macdonald, Oxford University Press (2010) The Encyclopedia Of Mammals, African Forest Elephant Classification, Available here: http://www.animalcorner.co.uk/rainforests/forestelephant.html, African Forest Elephant Habitat, Available here: http://www.theanimalfiles.com/mammals/elephants/african_forest_elephant.html, African Forest Elephant Information, Available here: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/african_forest_elephant.htm, African Forest Elephant Threats, Available here: http://www.elephant.se/african_forest_elephant.php, African Forest Elephant Conservation, Available here: http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/africanelephants/forestelephant.html. African forest elephants are found in the Congo Basin. In 1989 a worldwide Elephant ivory hunting ban fell into place, meaning that the African Forest Elephant population has fortunately begun to recover. There are an estimated 60,000 to 150,000 African forest elephants. 1. What phylum to African Forest Elephants belong to? Talk about ecological diversity! African Forest Elephant Reproduction. Humans are possibly the only threats to the African forest elephants. Here are 10 facts everyone should know about elephants. African elephant Fun Facts for Kids # 1. They weigh up to 5,950 pounds. A bull elephant can weigh up to 6 tonnes while a female elephant will weight half of this. Adult African forest elephants are smaller than the bush elephants. What class do African Forest Elephants belong to? And their large ears allow them to radiate excess heat. Their sense of sight is probably not as good. What type of covering do African Forest Elephants have? Out comes the water, right down the elephant's throat. Originally bred as a farm dog, the Wheaten Terrier can be very protective of its domain. African Forest Elephants are Herbivores, meaning they eat plants. The African forest elephant, also known as the forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) is quite a bit smaller than its African relative, the bush elephant. African Forest Elephants are threatened throughout much of their natural habitat today mainly due to deforestation and climate change and have been pushed into smaller and smaller pockets of their native lands. Not only are they necessary to attach leashes, licenses, IDs, and vaccination tags, but they can also be helpful when training. What is another name for the African Forest Elephant? On the bottom of its feet, the African Bush elephant possesses spongy pads, which soften its footsteps, allowing the animal to walk with making minimum noise. Facts about African Elephants 3: foot Look at the foot African elephant. Boradors make excellent police dogs and are used often on search and rescue missions. The African Forest Elephant is the one of the largest known land mammals on Earth, with male African Forest Elephants reaching nearly 3 meters in height and the female African Forest Elephants around 2.5 meters. They will travel in small groups. The elephant features the spongy pad on the foot. This, along with their pinkish tinge, has made the ivory of the African Forest Elephant’s tusks in high demand on the black market. Fun African elephant facts. They have the ability to hear vibrations through the ground. The African Forest Elephant is much smaller on average in size and rarely reaches a height more than 8 feet tall. The African Forest Elephant is a herbivorous animal meaning that it only eats plants and other vegetation. The African Forest Elephant also uses its tusks to defend itself from predators such as Lions, and to fight with other male African Forest Elephants during the mating season. They will eat a wide variety of trees, barks, leaves, mineral licks, seeds, and fruits. African Forest Elephants are fairly docile animals and can be seen co-inhabiting in the African wilderness with other large mammals and birds, relatively peacefully. 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