General Characteristics

Head to body length - 6.0 - 7.5 cm ( 20.0 - 24.5 feet )

Tail length - 3 75 - 4.25  ft ( 1 -1.3 meters )

Height - 3.3 m (10.8 feet )

Weight - 6000kg ( 13,200lb)

Ear size -183 cm by 114 cm

Description

African elephants are the heaviest land animal, and the second tallest in the Animal Kingdom. They are a sexually dimorphic species; males appear larger than females. They have enormous ears and  a unique nose that is simply a long, boneless trunk extending from the upper lip.  The two finger-like projections on the tip are so dexterous they can pick a blade of grass.  Their incisor teeth develop into tusks. Only other teeth they have are four molars which are replaced three times throughout their lives after the previous set wears down. African elephants have dark gray skin which is scattered with black hairs that wear off through the years. As a result the adults are mostly hairless. 

Range - African Elephants live in Africa, South of the Sahara. 

Habitat - It lives in Savanna, grassland, and forest. 

Diet - They eat leaves, shrubs, and grasses.

Status There used to be 1.3 million. Now there are only 600,000.

Reason for the status -People are killing elephants for their ivory  (tusks) and habitat loss is caused by agriculture and deforestation. 

Gestation Period - 22 months

Longevity - Life span is about 60-80 years

  African Elephant at the Los Angeles Zoo