Wildlifeof Malaysia
Asian Elephant
Elephants, Tapir & Rhinos
Photo: (c) Morten Ross, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Elephas maximus
Basic stats
Habitat
Forest and grassland across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia
Range
Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, from India in the west to Borneo in the east
Weight
Adult males average about 4 tonnes, females about 2.7 tonnes
The Asian elephant is the only living species in the genus Elephas, the largest living land animal in Asia and the second largest living elephantid. It has a long trunk with a single finger-like process, a high body point on the head, small ears with folded dorsal borders, two hemispherical bulges on the forehead, and wrinkled grey skin that is partly depigmented on the trunk, ears or neck. Males have large tusks; cows usually lack them. Adult males average about 4 tonnes and females about 2.7 tonnes (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is highly intelligent and self-aware, with a well-developed neocortex, and displays behaviours associated with grief, learning and greeting. Three subspecies are recognised: E. m. maximus, E. m. indicus and E. m. sumatranus, the Sumatran elephant (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Asian Elephant live in?
- Forest and grassland across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia
- Where is the Asian Elephant found?
- Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, from India in the west to Borneo in the east
- How much does the Asian Elephant weigh?
- Adult males average about 4 tonnes, females about 2.7 tonnes