What kind of elephant is the largest. Elephants - description, species, range, nutrition, behavior, reproduction and facts. Some interesting facts about elephants

Dwelling on dry land. Its size excites the imagination, since a person is just a short man compared to him. However, even among these animals there are those who are clearly superior to their counterparts in size. So let's go on a little educational walk and find out: how much does the largest elephant in the world weigh? Where does he live? And what curious secrets hides?

Descendants of ancient giants

The history of the origin of elephants has its roots in those distant times, when a great cooling slowly approached the earth. According to the latest research, the first elephant-like creatures were born about 1.6 million years ago. They were a random genetic error - a mutation that forever separated the mastodons into two separate species.

At the same time, elephant-like animals also succumbed to evolutionary changes over the years. They formed three separate subspecies. Namely, mammoths, Indian and First, unfortunately, could not survive to this day. But the other two still walk on the lands familiar to us. But the most curious thing is that over the course of all these long years they have not changed much.

Indian and African elephant: who is bigger?

Even in the last century, scientists were sure that all elephants are the same, regardless of the region in which they live. However, more recent studies have shown this to be false. In fact, the largest elephant is African. An animal from the Black Continent overtakes its Asian relative both in body weight and in height.

It should also be noted that the African elephant is also divided into two large subspecies: savannah and forest. The first one is larger. It follows from this that the largest elephant in the world is the one that lives in the expanses of the African savannas. It is he who is the owner of the title "the largest land animal on the planet."

Some numbers: how much does an adult elephant weigh?

Let's start with the smallest representative of the elephant family - Indian, or, as it is also called, This animal lives in Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, India, Vietnam and China. On average, males of this species grow up to 2.5-3 m in height, and their weight ranges from 4.0-4.5 tons. Females are much shorter than their cavaliers - they rarely grow more than 2.4 m and weigh about 2-2.5 tons.

The forest African elephant is in many ways similar to its Indian relative. This is especially true of its proportions. So, the males of this species grow up to 3 m in height, however, today you rarely meet such strong men. On average, forest elephants reach 2.6 m, and their weight ranges from 2.5-3 tons. Females have approximately the same body proportions and are only slightly inferior to their cavaliers.

As for the savannah subspecies, it is truly the largest elephant on the planet. These giants can grow up to 4 meters in height, and their maximum weight varies between 5-6 tons. Their body length reaches 6-7 meters. At the same time, females, like those of other subspecies, are much smaller than their cavaliers.

The largest elephant in the world: who is he?

According to the old archives, the largest was an elephant caught by hunters in Angola in the 19th century. Its weight was just under 12.5 tons, and each tusk weighed at least 50 kilograms. However, given the remoteness of the incident, it is rather difficult to confirm the veracity of these documents.

But official data suggests that the largest elephant is Yossi. That is the name of the 32-year-old African giant living in the Safari Park near the city of Romat Gan. The weight of this animal is 6 tons, and its height is 3.7 meters. At the same time, the elephant is still quite young, and therefore there is a high probability that Yossi will grow even more over the next ten years.

Some interesting facts about elephants

Few know that:

The largest Indian elephant was shot dead in 1924. His weight was 8 tons, and his height was 3.35 m.
Having strong legs, the elephant is nevertheless the only animal on the planet that does not know how to jump at all.
In one day, an adult male can eat about 200 kilograms of plant food and drink 300 liters of water.
Elephants very rarely kneel or squat. Moreover, these animals sleep standing up, and only small elephants are able to lie on their side.
Despite such large proportions of the body, the elephant can run at a speed of 40 km / h. While running, he easily breaks through a brick wall, and in case of panic, he will completely trample anyone who gets under his feet.

As you know, elephants are the largest land animals on planet Earth. Elephants living in India are considered larger in size than African elephants.

For a better look at the elephant's place in the animal world, check out our amazing photos and learn some fascinating facts about these big-eared giants.

There is no creature in the world that looks like an elephant: does any animal have such huge ears and such a trunk? Why does this animal need a trunk? For water procedures, for smelling, nutrition and even for communication. Did you know that elephants are able to pick up certain sound frequencies with their ears that are available only to them.

Listen to the elephant's voice

Even being at a distance from each other, elephants can use their "locators" - their ears.

What else is remarkable about elephants?

Elephants are very smart animals.

It turns out that the average elephant takes at least 16 hours a day to absorb food. How much food can you eat in that amount of time? From 45 to 450 kilograms. As for the liquid, her elephant drinks from 100 to 300 liters per day. Here he is such a "water drinker"!

Elephants, both and - animals are very caring and attentive towards each other. They are very worried and mourn if a misfortune happens to one of the members of the herd. When a baby elephant is born in the "elephant family", everyone is ready to help in the care and upbringing of the baby.

How long do elephants live?

These giants are able to live up to the age of 70 years. The elephant sleeps very little - only four hours a day. But even this time spent in a dream gives the elephant a charge of vivacity and strength for a new day.

On the intelligence of elephants

Elephants are considered one of the smartest animals on planet Earth. They have a phenomenal memory: this applies to both the events in their lives and the people who interact with them (for example, in a circus or a zoo).

And now some photos of amazing animals - elephants.

The elephant is the largest land animal.

Elephant intelligence is evident.

An elephant is an animal that cannot jump.

A newborn elephant weighs about 90 kilograms and is 100 cm long.

Elephant tusk is a valuable prey for humans, because of these parts of the body, elephants often become victims of poachers.

Elephant riding is one of the main attractions for tourists in hot countries.

Photos are taken from the Internet.

elephants (Elephantidae)- huge, strong, intelligent and sociable mammals. For many centuries, mankind has been amazed by their size - males of the African species can reach 7,500 kilograms. Elephants amaze with their long and flexible noses, large and flapping ears, and loose and wrinkled skin. They are among the most famous animals in the world. There are many stories and movies about elephants - you've probably heard of Horton, King Babar and baby Dumbo.

Appearance

Ears

The ears of elephants, in addition to their direct purpose, also act as an air conditioner. In hot weather, elephants wave them, and thereby cool the blood in the ears, which, thanks to numerous blood vessels, cools the entire body of the animal.

Leather

The term "thick-skinned" comes from the Greek word "pachydermos" meaning "thick skin". The thickness of the skin on some parts of the body can reach 2.54 cm. The skin does not fit tightly to the body, which creates the appearance of baggy pants. The benefit of thick skin is to retain moisture, as the evaporation time increases and the body stays cooler longer. Despite the thickness of their skin, elephants are very sensitive to touch and sunburn. To protect themselves from blood-sucking insects and the sun, they often pour water on themselves and also roll in the mud.

Tusks and teeth

The tusks of an elephant are located on the upper jaw and serve as the only incisors. They are used for defense, foraging, and for lifting objects. The tusks are present at birth and are milk teeth that fall out after a year when they reach a length of 5 cm. Permanent tusks extend beyond the lips after 2-3 years and grow throughout life. The tusks are made of ivory (dentin), with an outer layer of enamel, and the peculiar shape creates a special sheen that distinguishes ivory tusks from other mammals such as warthogs, walruses and sperm whales. Often, African elephants die at the hands of poachers just because of their tusks.

Elephants also have molars located on both jaws on both sides. One molar can weigh about 2.3 kilograms and be the size of a brick. Each elephant changes up to 6 sets of teeth in its lifetime. New teeth do not grow vertically, as in most mammals, but climb from behind, while old and worn ones are pushed forward. In old age, elephant molars are sensitive and worn, so they prefer to eat softer food. In this case, swamps are ideal places where soft vegetation grows. In such areas, you can often find old individuals that remain there until their death. This circumstance has led some people to believe that elephants go to special places to die.

Trunk

The elephant's trunk simultaneously acts as the upper lip and nose. On each side of the trunk there are 8 large muscles, and along the entire length there are about 150,000 muscle bundles (muscle lobes). This unique appendage lacks bone and cartilage. He is so strong that he can lower the trunk of a tree down and so agile that he can only pick up one straw. Elephants use their trunks like we use our hands: grab, hold, lift, touch, pull, push and throw.

The trunk also functions as a nose. It has two nostrils to draw in air through the long nasal passages into the lungs. Elephants use their trunk to drink, but the water doesn't go all the way to the nose like a straw, instead it lingers in the trunk and then the elephant raises its head and pours the water into its mouth.

Habitat

Asian elephants live in Nepal, India and parts of Southeast Asia. The main habitat is low growing and tropical forests. During the dry months, they are often found along river banks.

African bush elephants (savannah elephants) live in eastern, central and southern parts of Africa, prefer lowland and mountain forests, floodplains, all types of woodlands and savannahs. Forest elephants are found in the Congo Basin and in western Africa, in moist, semi-deciduous tropical forests.

The largest elephant

The record for the largest elephant was held by an adult male African elephant. He weighed about 12,240 kilograms and stood 3.96 meters in height to his shoulders. Most animals do not grow to this size, but African bush elephants are much larger in size than Asian ones.

big appetite

The elephant's diet includes all types of vegetation, from grass and fruits to leaves and bark. Every day, these huge animals consume 75-50 kilograms of food, which is 4-6% of their body weight. On average, they spend up to 16 hours a day eating. Savanna elephants are herbivores and feed on grass, including sedge, flowering plants, leaves of bushes. Forest elephants prefer leaves, fruits, seeds, twigs and bark. Asian elephants have a mixed diet, during the dry season and after heavy rains they eat shrubs and small trees, and after the first part of the rainy season they can eat grass. Also Asian elephants can eat different types of plants depending on the season, twigs and bark.

Life in the herd

Elephants live in tight social groups called herds, usually made up of females and their offspring. The main leader of the herd is the most experienced and adult female, so matriarchy reigns in the elephant family. The herd leader remembers how to find his way to food and water while avoiding predators and knows the best places to hide. Also, the main female has the right to teach younger individuals the rules of behavior in society. In some cases, the group may consist of one of the main leader's sisters and her offspring. When the number of individuals in the group becomes large, a new herd is formed, while they can maintain free communication with other associations.

Adult males usually do not live in a herd. After gaining independence from their mother, males leave the herd and live alone or with other bachelors. Males can visit a herd of females only for a short time, for breeding. They do not participate in the upbringing of their offspring.

Etiquette is an important part of elephant society. The trunk may be extended to another elephant in greeting, affection, hugging, wrestling, and reproductive testing.

Offspring

At birth, the growth of an elephant cub is about a meter, and the weight is 55-120 kg. As a rule, babies are born with hair, a short trunk and are directly dependent on the mother and other members of the herd. They do not need a trunk, since milk, from the mother, enters the mouth. Baby elephants try to stay as close as possible to their mother or other nursing female. During the first year of life, on average, they gain 1-1.3 kilograms of weight per day. If the baby is in distress, other members of the herd often come to his aid.

Despite prolonged gestation and protection, baby elephants need to gradually move through the social stages of the herd and establish their position in it. The cubs spend their days learning to walk on four legs in one direction, trying to cope with huge ears and mastering the work of the trunk. At first they are very clumsy, but all the time they learn to control their body. Upon reaching 2-3 years of age, elephants stop eating mother's milk.

Enemies

What animals pose a threat to elephants? Not many! Baby elephants can be potential food for hyenas, lions, leopards, or crocodiles, but as long as they're with their mom, don't worry. If an elephant senses an approaching danger, it makes a loud sound (alarm) to warn others. To fight a potential predator, the herd forms a protective ring of adults, while the babies are in the middle. For an adult elephant, the main enemy is a poacher with a rifle.

Sounds

Elephants make many different sounds, but some of them are not able to catch human ears, because they are low-frequency. Elephants use these sounds to communicate with each other over long distances. Have you had stomach growls at the most inopportune moment? For elephant society, this is a welcome sound that signals to other elephants that "everything is fine."

Kinds

There are two kinds of elephants: African and Asian. The African genus is subdivided into two species, the bush elephant and the forest elephant, while the Asian or Indian elephant is the only surviving species in its genus. Discussions are still ongoing about how many and what types of elephants there are. More details about African and Asian elephants are written below.

African elephant

Conservation Status: Vulnerable.

African elephants are the largest land animals in the world. Their trunk is an extension of their upper lip and nose and is used to communicate with other individuals, sort things out, and for eating. African elephants, unlike Asian elephants, have two forks at the end of their trunks. Tusks, which grow throughout life, are observed in both males and females, are used in battles, for digging, and also for food. Another notable feature of African elephants is their huge ears, which allow them to cool their huge bodies.

To date, there are two types of African elephants:

Bush or bush elephant (Loxodonta africana);

forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis).

The savannah species is larger than the forest species and has tusks twisted outwards. At the same time, the forest elephant is darker in color with straight, downward-pointing tusks. There are also differences in the size and shape of the skull and skeleton.

social structure

The social structure of elephants is organized around a herd of bonded females and their offspring. In the bush elephant, each family unit includes about 10 individuals, although there are also associations of these family units - "clans" that can number 70 individuals. Elephants of the forest species live in small family associations. Herds can form temporary aggregations of elephants, numbering around 1,000, mostly in East Africa. These associations occur during a period of drought, due to human intervention or any other changes that worsen the standard pattern of existence. When threatened, elephants create a ring around the young and the matriarch (main female), which can be attacked. Young elephants stay with their mother for many years and also receive care from other females in the herd.

Life cycle

As a rule, the female gives birth to one cub, once every 2.5-9 years, at the beginning of the rainy season. Pregnancy lasts 22 months. Cubs are breastfed for 6-18 months, although there are cases of feeding up to 6 years. Males leave the female after mating and tend to form alliances with other males. African elephants can live up to 70 years. The fertile age of females begins at 25 years, lasts up to 45 years. Males need to reach the age of 20 in order to successfully compete for a female with other males.

diet

African elephants prefer to eat leaves, branches of bushes and trees, but they can eat grass, fruits and bark.

Historical range and population size

The habitat of the African elephant ranged in most African countries, from the Mediterranean coast to the south of the continent. Scientists believe that between 1930 and 1940, there were more than 3-5 million African elephants. However, as a result of intensive hunting for trophies and tusks, the populations of the species began to decline significantly from the 1950s. An estimated 100,000 elephants were killed in the 1980s, and in some regions, up to 80% of the elephants were killed. In Kenya, the population fell by 85% between 1973 and 1989.

Population size and distribution at the current time

The forest species is distributed in the tropical forest zone in the west and in the center of Africa, where there are relatively large areas of dense forest. The bush elephant lives in the east and south of Africa. Most of the species is concentrated in Botswana, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Zambia and South Africa.

A significant number of elephants are deprived of well-protected areas - less than 20% are protected. In most West African countries, the population count is carried out with only hundreds or tens of individuals living in small groups in an isolated forest. In contrast to the west of the continent, the elephant population in the south is larger and gradually increasing - more than 300,000 elephants now wander between subregions.

Threats

Elephants continue to wander throughout Africa. But these magnificent animals are endangered due to poaching and habitat loss. Elephant populations throughout Africa are in varying states, some are under great threat of extinction, while others are safe. South Africa has become the main support for elephants, on its territory, the number of individuals is gradually increasing.

Significant elephant populations are separated from well-protected areas that contain only a small number of animals. The African elephant is threatened by illegal hunting for meat and ivory, loss of habitat, conflicts with humans. Most countries do not have sufficient capacity to protect the African elephant. In the absence of conservation action, in some parts of Africa for 50 years, elephants may become extinct animals.

In the early 1970s, the demand for ivory increased and the amount of ivory exported from Africa reached a critical level. Most of the goods that left Africa were declared illegal, with about 80% of the raw meat of slaughtered elephants. This illegal trade has been a driving factor in the decline of the African elephant population from 3-5 million to its current level.

In 1989, the "Convention on International Trade in Species of Wild Fauna and Flora" banned the international trade in ivory to combat massive illegal trade. Following the entry into force of the ban in 1990, some of the main markets for ivory were eliminated. As a result, illegal killings have dropped dramatically in some countries in Africa, especially in places where elephants were not adequately protected. This fact allowed the population of the African elephant to recover.

However, in countries where conservation authorities receive insufficient funding to combat poaching, the problem becomes significant. Uncontrolled domestic markets for the sale of ivory in a number of states continue to grow. In addition, increasing land use pressure on the elephant population, cutbacks in the budget for protection agencies, and continued poaching for elephant bone and meat have kept the illegal killing of elephants common in some regions.

The uneven distribution of the population has created controversy over the conservation of the African elephant. Some people, mostly in southern countries where elephant numbers are on the rise, believe that legal enforcement and control of the ivory trade can bring significant economic benefits without compromising the conservation of the species. Others oppose as corruption and the lack of law enforcement will make it impossible to control sensible trading. Therefore, the illegal trade in ivory remains a real threat to the African elephant, and concern for the conservation of the population is considered a priority.

As the elephant's habitat extends beyond protected areas, and the rapid growth of the human population and the expansion of agricultural land, the habitats of elephants are increasingly reduced. In this regard, there is a conflict between man and elephant. The boundaries of the farms do not allow elephants to pass through the migratory corridors. The consequence is the destruction or damage of agricultural crops and small villages. The inevitable loss comes from both sides, as people lose their livelihood to elephants, and elephants lose their habitats, for which they often lose their lives. The human population continues to grow throughout the territory of elephants, which threatens to reduce habitats, being the main threat.

The more we learn about elephants, the more the need for conservation increases. The current generation needs to be inspired to help preserve these beautiful wildlife for our future generations.

Asian elephant

Conservation status: Endangered species.
Listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature

The sacred Asian elephant, which has been worshiped for many centuries, is still used for ceremonial and religious purposes. It is revered not only for its role in Asian culture, but also for being one of the key species in the Asian rainforests. Although there are thousands of domesticated elephants in Southeast Asia, this magnificent animal is threatened with extinction in the wild, associated with a rapidly growing human population that is crowding out elephants from their usual habitat.

Wild elephant populations are small because ancient migration routes are cut off by human settlements and cannot rejoin other elephant groups. Clashes between elephants and humans often result in the death of both sides. Today, widespread problems are: illegal poaching, trade in ivory, meat and skins.

Description

The Asian elephant is considered the largest land mammal in Asia. It has relatively small ears, a single finger-like process at the end of the trunk, while the African elephant has two processes. A significant number of male Asian elephants lack tusks, and the percentage of males with tusks varies by region - about 5% in Sri Lanka and up to 90% in southern India. Asian elephants constantly keep their ears moving to keep their bodies cool. They have a well-developed hearing, vision, sense of smell, and are also excellent swimmers. Dimensions: body length is 550-640 cm, height at the shoulders is 250-300 cm, weight is about 5000 kg. Color: varies from dark gray to brown, with patches of pink on the forehead, ears, chest and at the base of the trunk.

social structure

Asian elephants have a tight social structure. Females are united in groups of 6-7 related individuals, at the head of which are females "matriarchs". As with African elephants, groups may join others to form large herds that are relatively short-lived.

Life cycle

According to observers, Asian elephant cubs can stand on their feet immediately after birth, and after a few months they begin to feed on grass and leaves. Under the care of the mother, the babies remain for several years, and begin to move independently after 4 years. At the age of 17, elephants reach their final size. Both sexes become sexually mature at the age of 9 years, but males usually do not become sexually active until 14-15 years of age, and even at this age they are not capable of social dominance, which is a necessary component of successful reproductive activity.

reproduction

In favorable living conditions, the female can give birth to cubs every 2.5-4 years, otherwise it happens every 5-8 years.

diet

Elephants spend more than two-thirds of the day feeding on grass, tree bark, roots, leaves, and small stems. Crops such as bananas, rice and sugar cane are the preferred foods. Asian elephants need to drink at least once a day, so they are always near fresh water sources.

Population and distribution

Initially ranged from present-day Iraq and Syria to China's Yellow River Yellow River, they are now only found from India to Vietnam, with a tiny population settled in China's southwest Yunnan province. It is estimated that over 100,000 Asian elephants existed in the early 20th century. And over the past 60-75 years, the population has declined by at least 50%.

Threats

The ever-growing human population of tropical Asia has encroached on the elephants' dense but declining forested habitat. About 20% of the world's population lives in or near the range of the Asian elephant. Competition for living space has led to a significant loss of forest cover, as well as a decline in the number of Asian elephants - 25,600-32,750 individuals in the wild.

Asian elephant populations have increased fragmentation, the consequence of which is a significant decrease in the chances of survival, since in the face of a growing population of people, development projects are created based on the construction of dams, roads, mines, industrial complexes, settlements. Most national parks and reserves where elephants live are too small to accommodate all viable populations. The transformation of forest land into agricultural land leads to serious conflicts between people and elephants. Every year in India, elephants kill up to 300 people.

In Asiatic elephants, only males have tusks and therefore poaching is directed at them. The killing of elephants for ivory and meat remains a serious problem in many countries, especially in southern India (where 90% of elephants are potential prey) and northeast India, where some people eat elephant meat. From 1995 to 1996, covert poaching for the bones and meat of Asian elephants increased. The illegal trade across the Thai-Myanmar border in live elephants, their bones, and skins has also become a big conservation problem. In 1997, seven years after the ivory trade was banned, illegal sales remained in the Far East, with South Korea, China and Taiwan remaining the main markets. However, most of this illegal production came from Africa, not Asian elephants.

The incarceration of wild elephants for domestic purposes has become a threat to wild populations, which have declined substantially. The governments of India, Vietnam, and Myanmar have banned capture in an effort to conserve wild herds, but in Myanmar, elephants are captured each year for use in the lumber industry or illegal trade. Unfortunately, crude methods of fishing have led to a high mortality rate. Efforts are being made not only to improve safety but also to breed elephants in captivity. Given that almost 30% of elephants live in captivity, it is necessary to increase their numbers through the reintroduction of individuals into the wild.

elephant facts

Life span: about 30 years in the wild and about 50 years in captivity.
Pregnancy: 20 to 22 months.
Number of babies at birth: 1.
Sexual maturity 13-20 years.
Size: females average 2.4 meters in height to the shoulders, and males - 3-3.2 meters.
Weight: The female African elephant weighs up to 3600 kg, and the male - 6800 kg. The female Asian elephant weighs an average of 2720 kg, and the male - 5400 kg.
Birth weight: 55-120 kg.
Height at birth: 66-107 centimeters to the shoulders.
The skin of an elephant is so sensitive that the animal can feel the touch of a fly.
The low, loud calls of one elephant can be heard by others up to 8 kilometers away.
Elephants suffer from hunting for their tusks, which are made of dentine, just like our teeth.
In the Andaman Islands (India), elephants swim in the sea between the islands.
The skull of an elephant weighs about 52 kilograms.
Elephants use mostly one of their tusks. Therefore, often one is worn more than the other.
The modern elephant is the only mammal that can stay well below the surface of the water, using its trunk as a snorkel.
Frequent bathing and dousing with water, as well as mud baths, are an important part of skin care.
Unlike other mammals, elephants grow throughout their lives.
Are elephants afraid of mice? Most likely, they are annoyed by small animals, so they try to scare or crush them.
Elephants can remember good and bad things. Especially in zoos, they can remember people who have done something nice for them or vice versa.
Elephants sleep lying down for several hours, and, as zookeepers have noticed, they can even snore.
An African elephant, weighing about 6,300 kilograms, is capable of carrying up to 9,000 kilograms.

Our world is unique and amazing. It is inhabited by creatures of various shapes and sizes: from tall and short to small and large. All of them can be classified into various categories.

Consider the largest representatives in their class that inhabit our Earth.

The biggest elephant in the world

Official international recognition recently earned one of the pets of the Safari Park in the city of Romat Gan, the official elephant Yossi, who is the elder of the park. He was recognized as the largest elephant in the world.

So, a special expert was invited to the Safari Park, who carefully measured the elephant. Thus, the weight of the largest elephant is very impressive, it amounted to about 6 tons. And the growth of the largest elephant is 3 meters 70 centimeters. According to the Yediot Ahront newspaper: the length of the tail of an elephant reaches 1 meter, the length of the trunk is 2.5 meters, the length of the ears is 1.2 meters, and the tusks stick out half a meter forward.

The elephant's habitat is the entire territory located in the south of the Sahara desert.

African elephants are shorter than Indian elephants: the body length of Indian elephants can reach 6 meters 50 centimeters;
in their natural habitat, all adult African elephants have no enemies;
all elephants are the only animals that cannot jump;
elephants are the only four-legged animals in which all four legs are equally functional;
all elephants sleep standing up, only small cubs can go to bed on the ground, on their side;
elephants run faster than humans, they are able to reach speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour;
one ear of an adult African elephant can reach a weight of 85 kilograms;
the diet of an African elephant per day can be up to 200 liters of water and 300 kilograms of tree leaves and hay;
African elephants are the only animals on Earth that give memorial day to the dead

The biggest whale in the world

The blue whale is the largest whale in the world. It is also called blue whale or blue whale. The body weight of this mammal reaches 150 tons, and the length is 30 meters. Its heart weighs about 1,300 feet (600 kg), making it the largest such organ of any living being. Also, the blue whale has large lung volumes: they can exceed 3000 liters.

by weight, the tongue of a blue whale can reach about 2.8 tons, which is comparable to the weight of an average-sized Asian elephant;
individuals of blue whales usually stay alone and rarely gather in flocks;
blue breed extremely slowly;
The number of blue whales has no more than 10 thousand individuals.

The largest crocodile in the world is Cassius Clay, included in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest reptile that lives in captivity. The most famous inhabitant of northern Australia was caught in the wild 26 years ago. He was lodged with the owner of the Green Island farm in Marineland Melanesia.

The crocodile got its name in honor of the legendary boxer Clay Cassius. The body length of a crocodile is 5 meters 48 centimeters; and the weight is equal to a whole ton.

It should be noted that at the end of May this year, Cassius Clay turned 110 years old. A twenty-kilo chicken cake was his birthday present.

The biggest bear in the world

The largest bear in the world is the Kodiak bear, which lives off the southern coast of Alaska on the islands of the eponymous archipelago. Also Kodiak is one of the largest predators in the world that live on land.

These animals moved from Alaska to the Kodiak archipelago about 12 thousand years ago. They are close relatives of the grizzly.

In length, the bear reaches 3 meters and has a weight of almost half a ton.

The largest elephant in the world An elephant is considered the largest animal living on earth - it boasts an excellent memory, it can distinguish simple songs. In general, it lends itself well to learning. Did you know that there is an elephant that can paint a whole picture using its own trunk?

What is the largest elephant? A massive body, huge ears, a long trunk and a couple more tusks, although the latter are not inherent in everyone. These colossi chose Africa and India as their residence. Elephants often take a mud shower - this is how they escape from annoying insects. The mud, drying up, forms a crust that, like a shell, protects its thick skin. It is officially recorded that the largest elephant weighs 12,000 kg. Usually, their weight does not exceed eight thousand kilograms.

In the jewelry industry, there is a great demand for tusks - they are used to make original jewelry that is very popular. Poachers during the hunt are not stopped by the fact that elephants are listed in the Red Book. In India, elephants are used to facilitate labor - elephants make a good vehicle, especially in difficult places. On the African peninsula, such treatment of animals is not practiced.

The diet of elephants consists of plants, they can gnaw on the bark of trees. They prefer to eat carrots, they are unlikely to resist an apple. Elephants have a terrible sweet tooth, and are able to stand indefinitely near the fence of the enclosure in the hope that they will be treated to a sweet treat. FROM a large number of sweets, animals not only get fat, but also become addicted to sweets.

Asian elephants

There are three types of elephants living in Azi - Sri Lankan, Indian, Sumatran. Of the Sri Lankan individuals, the most prominent is an elephant 3.5 m high and weighing 5.5 tons. He lives on the island after which he is named. The Indian elephant is not uncommon; you can meet him in any of the Asian countries. It weighs no more than 5 tons. The smallest Sumatran - growth is 2.5 m, and weight - three tons.

African elephant

These are the largest animals on the planet. In nature, there are two types of African elephants - savanna and forest. The first of them can weigh up to eight tons and grow up to four meters, the latter are inferior to them in their parameters - no more than five tons and three meters in height. These are very friendly animals, fights and quarrels rarely arise between relatives. Usually they live in one large herd, take care of the cubs, and do not leave the sick in trouble. During mating, due to the increased level of testosterone, elephants can be aggressive, and only during this period can one elephant injure another member of its kind. With females, the relationship is tender - after looking at a couple, the elephants move a short distance from the herd and there, far from prying eyes, they indulge in mutual caresses.

Until the baby elephants are five years old, they are under the tireless attention of their mother, upon reaching 15 years old, the elephant becomes an adult. In the savannah, young elephants are in danger - lions. One largest elephant is able to eat 100 kg of grass - often these good-natured creatures cause the death of shrubs and trees. Due to the destruction of green spaces, the shooting of these large animals was allowed. The average age of the life of an African giant is 60-70 years. Unlike their Indian relatives, African ones are much more difficult to train.

Elephant Yossi

The world's largest elephant lives at the Safari Zoo in Israel. He has reached a very respectable age - he is 32 years old, but continues to grow and is already barely squeezing through the gate leading to the courtyard - to overcome them, the elephant has to squat - the only way he can be on a walk. Experts believe that such a kind of exercise only benefits the animal. An elephant named Yossi became the tallest elephant ever to live in captivity. Now its height is 3.7 m. Its weight is 6 tons, the tail of an elephant is 1 meter, the trunk is 2.5 meters, ears = 1.2 meters. According to assumptions, the reasons for growth lie in the genes. An important factor is a complete meal.

Since ancient times, people have learned to use elephants for heavy work - transporting heavy burdens, people. Repeatedly took part in bloody battles. But you should not hang an unbearable burden on an elephant - an elephant is not omnipotent and is not able to lift a load that is more than a quarter of its weight.