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Size 
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| Description | Huge animal with long thick legs and very large ears. Its trunk is versatile acting as a nose and hand. Usually has long tusks. Female has one pair of mammae between the front legs. | |
| Sexual dimorphism | Bull is larger than the cow and has larger and heavier tusks. | |
| Habitat | Found in areas ranging from arid to dense forest and savanna or forest recording a high rainfall. Clear drinking water, other permanent water, shade and enough food (grass and branches) are essential. | |
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Habits |
Diurnal and nocturnal. Gregarious, herds consist mainly of a cow and her descendants. Bulls form temporary male herds or live alone, especially the old ones, only joining the cows for mating. Large breeding herds with bulls also exist. It shows aggression when it lifts its trunk and head, spreads out its ears and trumpets, or kicks up dust. When drinking water it squirts it over itself or lies down to cool off. Enjoys wallowing in mud and rubbing against trees. | |
| Voice | Screams and trumpets. Keeps contact by deep rumbling. | |
| Breeding | One, rarely two, calves born at any time during the year after a gestation period of ± 22 months. | |
| Food | Branches, grass, leaves, bark reed and fruit. May drink water once in four days or even daily. Water for drinking must be clear, may even dig in the sand for water. | |
| Mass |
♂ 5700 kg ♀ 5500 kg |
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| Life expectancy | ± 65 years | |
| Weight of tusks |
Average ± 35 kg Record 102,72 kg |
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| Enemies | None | |
| Also known as |
Olifant (Afrikaans) Loxodonta africana |
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