Elephants are large mammals of the Elephantidae family and the order Proboscidea. There are traditionally two recognized species, namely the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), although some evidence suggests that the African bush elephant and the African forest elephant are distinct species (L. africana and L. cyclotis). Elephants are distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia. Elephantidae are the only extant family of the order Proboscidea; Other families that are now extinct include mammoths and mastodons.
The male African elephant is the largest land animal with a height of up to 4 m and a mass that can also reach 7,000 kg. Elephants have special characteristics, and the most striking is the trunk or proboscis which is used for many things, especially for breathing, sucking water, and picking up objects. Its incisors grow into fangs that can be used as weapons and tools for moving objects or digging. The large ears help regulate their body temperature. African elephants have larger ears and sunken backs, while Asian elephants have smaller ears and a convex back.
