Asiatic elephant and African elephant

ASIATIC ELEPHANT AND AFRICAN ELEPHANT

Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus)

  • Convex head & temporal gland secretion (musth status)is common in males.
  • Long trunk and males have long tusks that are the modified dentine tissues.
  • Ears are large and the trunk ends in a single lip.
  • Tusks of females rarely protrude (TUSHES).
  • Tuskless males are called as makhnas and are very large in build with extraordinarily well-developed trunks.
  • Gall bladder is absent and testes are intra-abdominal.

African elephant (Loxodonta africana)

  • Larger in size than Asiatic one.
  • Trunk is shorter in length and two-equal sized lips are present in the end of the trunk.
  • Three nails on each hind feet.
  • Hollow-back is present.
  • Temporal gland-secretion is seen both in male and female elephants.
  • Aggressive and hence, difficult to tame.
Last modified: Friday, 27 April 2012, 10:32 AM