Meet our Featured Animal: the African elephant!
Here are five fun facts about African elephants:
- Weighing up to 6000 kg (6.6 tons) and measuring up to 3.3 m (10 ft.) at the shoulder, the African elephant is the world’s largest land mammal.
- Both male and female elephants possess tusks, which are modified incisor teeth.
- On average, an elephant can hear another elephant’s call at 4 km (2.5 mi.) away. Under ideal conditions, their range of hearing can be increased to 10 km (6.2 mi.).
- African elephants mostly communicate through low frequency sounds called “rumbling.” They are capable of producing and perceiving sounds one to two octaves lower than the human hearing limit.
- African elephants have good memory, which allows them to remember deceased loved ones, 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.
Learn more about elephants at our African elephant facts article.
Featured Animal: African Elephant – Animal Fact Guide