[69], Elephants are known to communicate with seismics, vibrations produced by impacts on the earth's surface or acoustical waves that travel through it. In the past, they were used in war; today, they are often controversially put on display in zoos, or exploited for entertainment in circuses. [107] For young females, the approach of an older bull can be intimidating, so her relatives stay nearby to provide support and reassurance. In Thailand, some elephants are white. elephant in the room, a problem or issue that everyone is aware of but that no one wants to talk about: Her dad’s depression has been the elephant in the room at family gatherings. [109] The penis is very mobile, being able to move independently of the pelvis. African bush elephants are the largest species, with males being 304–336 cm (10 ft 0 in–11 ft 0 in) tall at the shoulder with a body mass of 5.2–6.9 t (5.7–7.6 short tons) and females standing 247–273 cm (8 ft 1 in–8 ft 11 in) tall at the shoulder with a body mass of 2.6–3.5 t (2.9–3.9 short tons). Asian males are usually solitary, but occasionally form groups of two or more individuals; the largest consisted of seven bulls. Mitigating these conflicts is important for conservation. [41], Elephant ears have thick bases with thin tips. Elephas diversified into new species in Asia, such as E. hysudricus and E. platycephus;[26] the latter the likely ancestor of the modern Asian elephant. [104] Fertility rates in cows decline around 45–50 years of age. [102][103] The oestrous cycle of a cow lasts 14–16 weeks with a 4–6-week follicular phase and an 8- to 10-week luteal phase. For the first time, human words and emotions are being translated into elephant calls that signal similar emotions or … Asian elephants are comparatively smaller than those of the African ones. By means of a small, fingerlike projection on the tip of the trunkAfrican elephants have two of these extremities and Indian elephants have onethey are able to pick up small objects. [64] As many as five toenails can be found on both the front and hind feet. By its second week of life, the calf can walk more firmly and has more control over its trunk. One of the biggest threats to elephant populations is the ivory trade, as the animals are poached for their ivory tusks. Their closest extant relatives are the sirenians (dugongs and manatees) and the hyraxes, with which they share the clade Paenungulata within the superorder Afrotheria. They are usually bluffing when performing these actions. The pillar-like legs carry their great weight. They have helped us in many activities. When fighting, they are used to attack and defend, and to protect the trunk. The Asian elephant also has dorsal bumps on its head and some patches of depigmentation on its skin. The cranium is particularly large and provides enough room for the attachment of muscles to support the entire head. The nasal septum is composed of tiny muscle units that stretch horizontally between the nostrils. Showing page 1. Both the male and the female elephants of Africa have a stronger gripping trunk. Elephants are fascinating creatures. [169] Elephants in European zoos appear to have shorter lifespans than their wild counterparts at only 17 years, although other studies suggest that zoo elephants live as long those in the wild. The word "elephant" is based on the Latin elephas (genitive elephantis) ("elephant"), which is the Latinised form of the Greek ἐλέφας (elephas) (genitive ἐλέφαντος (elephantos[1]), probably from a non-Indo-European language, likely Phoenician. One day, a ruler came to see the Emperor of China. elephant translation in English-Zulu dictionary. They can carry humans along with other heavy loads on their backs. They are also found in zoos and wildlife sanctuaries. It relies on touch, smell, and hearing, as its eyesight is poor. [34] This classification has been re-evaluated and since the Second International Mammoth Conference in 1999, these animals are no longer considered to be true "dwarf mammoths". Elephants can be trained easily, and they entertain spectators in the zoo. It is attested in Mycenaean Greek as e-re-pa (genitive e-re-pa-to) in Linear B syllabic script. Elephants have a fission–fusion society, in which multiple family groups come together to socialise. [6] When underwater, the elephant uses its trunk as a snorkel. There appear to be cohesive family units and loose aggregations. [28] Their limbs grew longer and the feet shorter and broader. [142][143], African elephants receive at least some legal protection in every country where they are found, but 70% of their range exists outside protected areas. They appear to have self-awareness, and appear to show empathy for dying and dead family members. [188], Elephants are ubiquitous in Western popular culture as emblems of the exotic, especially since – as with the giraffe, hippopotamus and rhinoceros – there are no similar animals familiar to Western audiences. The trunk is used for breathing, bringing food and water to the mouth, and grasping objects. [172] Some trainers have tried to train elephants without the use of physical punishment. They are considered to be keystone species, due to their impact on their environments. Moreover, they are vital for maintaining the biodiversity of our ecosystem. [145] Historically, numerous cultures made ornaments and other works of art from elephant ivory, and its use rivalled that of gold. Elephants protect themselves from the heat in summers by throwing mud and sand onto themselves while bathing. [73] The elephant's penis can reach a length of 100 cm (39 in) and a diameter of 16 cm (6 in) at the base. Copulation lasts about 45 seconds and does not involve pelvic thrusting or ejaculatory pause. [6] The trunk is elongated and specialised to become the elephant's most important and versatile appendage. Elephants are mostly found in Africa and Asia. The former are sexually mature by the age of nine years[108] while the latter become mature around 14–15 years. Elephants are highly recognisable and have been featured in art, folklore, religion, literature, and popular culture. The African elephant is the largest living land animal, weighing up to 7,500 kg (8 tons) and standing 3 … It is the largest living land animal. Elephants are herbivores. Elephants are considered to be very intelligent, as they have a great learning capacity. Appendix II status (which allows restricted trade) was given to elephants in Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe in 1997 and South Africa in 2000. [10] African elephants have larger ears, a concave back, more wrinkled skin, a sloping abdomen, and two finger-like extensions at the tip of the trunk. [84] The size of adult elephants makes them nearly invulnerable to predators,[75] though there are rare reports of adult elephants falling prey to tigers. They have been recorded swimming for up to six hours without touching the bottom, and have travelled as far as 48 km (30 mi) at a stretch and at speeds of up to 2.1 km/h (1 mph). [13][14][15] In 2017, DNA sequence analysis showed that L. cyclotis is more closely related to the extinct Palaeoloxodon antiquus, than it is to L. africana, possibly undermining the genus Loxodonta as a whole. [92], Bulls engage in a behaviour known as mate-guarding, where they follow oestrous females and defend them from other males. By comparison, human sperm has to swim around only 76.2 mm (3.00 in). Tusks serve multiple purposes. Contact calls are soft, unmodulated sounds made by individuals that have been separated from their group and may be responded to with a "contact answer" call that starts out loud, but becomes softer. These tusks look like canine teeth and protect them from their enemies. The ear flaps, or pinnae, contain numerous blood vessels called capillaries. African forest elephants are the smallest species, with males usually being around 209–231 cm (6 ft 10 in–7 ft 7 in) tall at the shoulder and 1.7–2.3 t (1.9–2.5 short tons). Calves have brownish or reddish hair, especially on the head and back. Elephants can be trained to respond to over 30 commands. [165], Elephants were historically kept for display in the menageries of Ancient Egypt, China, Greece, and Rome. [68] In addition, the ventricles separate near the top of the heart, a trait they share with sirenians. Elephants love to swim in the rivers and streams. Families may associate and bond with each other, forming what are known as bond groups which typically made of two family groups. Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea; extinct members include the mastodons. [181][182][183] Several cultural references emphasise the elephant's size and exotic uniqueness. Despite this, he denied that any of these practices harm elephants. [112], Homosexual behaviour is frequent in both sexes. [90], Female elephants spend their entire lives in tight-knit matrilineal family groups, some of which are made up of more than ten members, including three mothers and their dependent offspring, and are led by the matriarch which is often the eldest female. [174], Elephants can exhibit bouts of aggressive behaviour and engage in destructive actions against humans. [44] Losing the trunk would be detrimental to an elephant's survival,[6] although in rare cases, individuals have survived with shortened ones. The former is typical of bulls in dense forests. After its first month, a calf can pick up, hold, and put objects in its mouth, but cannot suck water through the trunk and must drink directly through the mouth. [148] Around the same time, Kenya destroyed all its ivory stocks. [51] In earlier times, elephant tusks weighing over 200 pounds (more than 90 kg) were not uncommon, though it is rare today to see any over 100 pounds (45 kg). [43], The trunk, or proboscis, is a fusion of the nose and upper lip, although in early fetal life, the upper lip and trunk are separated. Large-scale cullings ceased in 1988, when Zimbabwe abandoned the practice. [188] Similar ideas existed among other African societies, who believed that their chiefs would be reincarnated as elephants. [128], At Amboseli, several different infrasonic calls have been identified. This helps them and other animals to survive in harsh environmental conditions. This is due to lower predation pressures that would otherwise kill off many of the individuals with significant parasite loads. They die younger. [49] Lin Wang, a captive male Asian elephant, lived for 86 years. The sixth (and usually final) set must last the elephant the rest of its life. As a piece of living tissue, a tusk is relatively soft; it is as hard as the mineral calcite. By contrast, Japan and Hong Kong, which were also part of the industry, were able to adapt and were not badly affected. [35], Elephants are the largest living terrestrial animals. Their weight can compact the soil, which causes the rain to run off, leading to erosion. The elephant grinds its food with/between its powerful molars. If not stopped, this might lead to their extinction. [18] The Eocene included Numidotherium, Moeritherium, and Barytherium from Africa. Population trends in southern Africa were mixed, with anecdotal reports of losses in Zambia, Mozambique and Angola while populations grew in Botswana and Zimbabwe and were stable in South Africa. They are used for digging for water, salt, and roots; debarking or marking trees; and for moving trees and branches when clearing a path. Elephant definition is - a thickset, usually extremely large, nearly hairless, herbivorous mammal (family Elephantidae, the elephant family) that has a snout elongated into a muscular trunk and two incisors in the upper jaw developed especially in the male into long ivory tusks:. This organ is associated with sexual behaviour, and males secrete a fluid from it when in musth. Elephants can live up to 70 years in the wild. Its skin tone is dark (mostly grey or black). [118][119] Elephants have long lifespans, reaching 60–70 years of age. This expression comes from a legendary former Siamese custom whereby an albino elephant, considered sacred, could only be owned by the king. Local people have reported their belief that some elephants were drunk during their attacks, although officials have disputed this explanation. He may urinate with his penis still in his sheath, which causes the urine to spray on his hind legs. Elephant Learning teaches math concepts from a logic and reasoning perspective, so students learn the underlying basic skills of math before attempting to tackle intimidating numbers and equations. It takes a female 22 months from conception to have a baby. AD 7. elephant translate: ゾウ. Seismic waveforms produced by locomotion appear to travel distances of up to 32 km (20 mi) while those from vocalisations travel 16 km (10 mi). Apart from these, elephants also have enamel tusks. [145] One proposed solution is the provision of 'urban corridors' which allow the animals access to key areas. [24] The Pleistocene also saw the arrival of Palaeoloxodon namadicus, the largest terrestrial mammal of all time. How to use elephant in a sentence. The elephant population is dwindling. After CITES listed the Asian elephant under Appendix I in 1975, the number of African elephants in zoos increased in the 1980s, although the import of Asians continued. The fifth set of teeth falls out at the early 40s. [77] At Hluhluwe–Umfolozi Game Reserve, South Africa, introduced young orphan elephants went on a killing spree that claimed the lives of 36 rhinos during the 1990s, but ended with the introduction of older males. They have been observed to have "nursing units" and "juvenile-care units". Individuals greet each other by stroking or wrapping their trunks; the latter also occurs during mild competition. [140] In June 2016, the First Lady of Kenya, Margaret Kenyatta, helped launch the East Africa Grass-Root Elephant Education Campaign Walk, organised by elephant conservationist Jim Nyamu. [135] As with chimps and dolphins, a dying or dead elephant may elicit attention and aid from others, including those from other groups. [75] Elephants are herbivorous and will eat leaves, twigs, fruit, bark, grass and roots. (UNESCO World Heritage Sites), Woodcut illustration for "The Elephant's Child" by Rudyard Kipling, This article is about the living species. Its height can reach as much as 85 cm and it weighs about 120 kg during birth. Elephants commonly trample and consume crops, which contributes to conflicts with humans, and both elephants and humans have died by the hundreds as a result. Illegal killing of the elephants has put them in danger. [157] In India, many working elephants are alleged to have been subject to abuse. The population varies from 400,000 to 660,000 in Africa and 25,600 to 32,750 in Asia. [2] It is attested in Mycenaean Greek as e-re-pa (genitive e-re-pa-to) in Linear B syllabic script. The largest captive population is in North America, which has an estimated 370 Asian and 350 African elephants. The cerebrum and cerebellum are well developed, and the temporal lobes are so large that they bulge out laterally. In a population in southern India, males first enter musth at the age of 15, but it is not very intense until they are older than 25. Following the bans, unemployment rose in India and China, where the ivory industry was important economically. The female's mammary glands occupy the space between the front legs, which puts the suckling calf within reach of the female's trunk. They are the biggest land mammals. They are one of the oldest living animals on Earth. This has been interpreted as expressing "concern";[136] however, others would dispute such an interpretation as being anthropomorphic;[137][138] the Oxford Companion to Animal Behaviour (1987) advised that "one is well advised to study the behaviour rather than attempting to get at any underlying emotion". Essay on Elephant in English for School Kids & Students. [184] The use of the elephant as a symbol of the U.S. Republican Party began with an 1874 cartoon by Thomas Nast. [108] During copulation, the male lays his trunk over the female's back. Size is the determining factor in agonistic encounters when the individuals have the same condition. Their hearing power is strong because of their large ears. It helps grasses and bushes to grow. This allows individuals to pick up chemical cues. Elephant teeth have loop-shaped dental ridges, which are thicker and more diamond-shaped in African elephants. We all sat sipping our tea quietly, no one wanting to bring up the elephant in the room about Joel's expulsion from college. Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu. Only when Elephas disappeared from Africa did Loxodonta become dominant once again, this time in the form of the modern species. Elephant can have grey or black colour skin. [61] Both the front and hind limbs can support an elephant's weight, although 60% is borne by the front. [151], Other threats to elephants include habitat destruction and fragmentation. [111][123] Fighting elephants may roar or squeal, and wounded ones may bellow. Weighing the Elephant ~ English Stories for Kids A long time ago, people who lived in China knew that a strange, amazing beast called an elephant lived in a faraway land, but no one had ever seen one. Proboscidea phylogeny based on upper molars. They stay in their group and make sure not to hurt any innocent creature. Elephant definition: An elephant is a very large animal with a long, flexible nose called a trunk , which it... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples The skull grew larger, especially the cranium, while the neck shortened to provide better support for the skull. [44] Floppy trunk syndrome is a condition of trunk paralysis in African bush elephants caused by the degradation of the peripheral nerves and muscles beginning at the tip. [139], African elephants were listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2008, with no independent assessment of the conservation status of the two forms. Normally the skin of an Asian elephant is covered with more hair than its African counterpart.[60]. [11] Asian elephants have more muscle coordination and can perform more complex tasks. [70] When standing, the elephant's heart beats approximately 30 times per minute. Agonistic encounters typically consist of threat displays, chases, and minor sparring with the tusks. Trumpeting is made during excitement, distress or aggression. [65] Fast-moving elephants appear to 'run' with their front legs, but 'walk' with their hind legs and can reach a top speed of 25 km/h (16 mph). The largest elephant recorded was one shot in Angola, 1974. October 11, 2020 October 9, 2020 by AtoZ Essays. [44] They will also spray dust or grass on themselves. Like all mammals, an elephant can raise or lower its temperature a few degrees from the average in response to extreme environmental conditions. During the dry season, elephant families may cluster together and form another level of social organisation known as the clan. Musth rumbles may be answered by the "female chorus", a low-frequency, modulated chorus produced by several cows. [195] In Islamic tradition, the year 570 when Muhammad was born is known as the Year of the Elephant. While most mammals have one surge of luteinizing hormone during the follicular phase, elephants have two. The lower jaw is solid and heavy. [129] Elephants appear to use seismics for a number of purposes. Asian elephants have smaller ears, a convex or level back, smoother skin, a horizontal abdomen that occasionally sags in the middle and one extension at the tip of the trunk. 10 lines on Elephant in English The elephant is a large size living creature on the earth. The average life span of an elephant is 5 to 70 years. The elephant is a very intelligent and obedient creature The elephant has four legs, two small eyes, two big ears, a trunk, and a small tail. [36] The vertebrae are connected by tight joints, which limit the backbone's flexibility. [62] They appear to have a sesamoid, an extra "toe" similar in placement to a giant panda's extra "thumb", that also helps in weight distribution. With time, strategists devised counter-measures and war elephants turned into an expensive liability and were hardly ever used by Romans and Parthians. [115] As such, newborn elephants are precocial and quickly stand and walk to follow their mother and family herd. Much of the tusk can be seen outside; the rest is in a socket in the skull. [122], Elephants produce several sounds, usually through the larynx, though some may be modified by the trunk. A newly developed tusk has a smooth enamel cap that eventually wears off. [154] Musth bulls can be difficult and dangerous to work with and are chained and semi-starved until the condition passes. Greece, and bizarre sharp and keen memory Seuss 's Horton people of,! Although elephants in the room a matter or problem that is obvious or of great importance but that ignored! Engage in a more stylised fashion every direction either the Pandavas or.. Behaviour is frequent in both Asian and 350 African elephants over 30 commands unique nerve... 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