The largest land mammal in the world

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2018-11-15 18:00:43

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If in the ocean the world's largest animal is the blue whale, probably the largest land mammal known to all. This, of course, an elephant. In a world inhabited by only two kinds of these animals:

  • African;
  • Indian, or Asian.

    largest land mammal

Indian elephants have a rich pedigree as descended from different ancestors. This is due to their difference from each other. In addition, the Indian elephants are much easier African. For comparison, the first weigh an average of about 6 tons, and the second – about eight. These giants live to 70 years.

What is the difference between Indian elephant and African?

  • As mentioned above, Asian elephants are a little lighter than their African «colleagues», which makes it the undisputed leader on land.
  • African elephants the back is a little arched, while Indian it is slightly hunchbacked.
  • The Most striking distinctive feature of the Asian elephants – this is a high and prominent forehead. Their African counterparts, on the contrary, the forehead is flat, even a little cut ago.
  • The Ears of the Indian elephant's ears are much less African and have a triangular shape.
  • African elephants trunk at its end has two flexible appendage, and Asian –

Remember: these animals are smart, but dangerous!

Elephants are capable of compassion and mutual support. But even despite this, and the Indian and African elephants are recognized as one of the most dangerous animals in the world. It should be noted that both of them sort of listed in the International Red book as the animals standing on the brink of extinction. So let's take a closer look at the largest land mammal in the world.

African elephant

African elephants Genus contains two modern types:

  • Forest;
  • Savannah.

In the height of African elephants can reach up to 4 meters and weigh up to 12 tons. The length of the massive trunk over 7 meters. Female African elephants, of course, smaller in size: they grow to 2.6 metres in height and up to 6.5 meters in length.

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largest land mammal

Despite its huge size, moves the largest land mammal with a speed of 40 km/h. just think! This hulking giant is able to very easily outrun humans. Every day he takes at least 300 kg of plant food. It and is clear: the bigger your body, the more energy in the process of life you're going to spend, and so it must be replenished through food.

Indian elephant

What land mammal after the African elephant is the largest in the world? Of course, his Indian brother! As has been said, Asian elephants in size is inferior to the African. The maximum body weight of adult males reaches up to 8 tons with a growth of 3.5 meters. Females, of course, less. Their maximum weight ranges from 4 tons. Externally, the Indian elephant shot down more than African. He has thick, but relatively short legs.

the largest land mammal in the world

The Tusks of these giants is much smaller than the African. They are well developed only in males. Interestingly, even among the males in India can meet the elephant without tusks. They were called Magna. The speed of movement of these animals does not differ from that of the African counterparts: they are also agile and develop it to 40 km/h.

Not long ago these animals inhabited a vast territory of India and Southeast Asia. However, in the nineteenth century, people actively began to destroy Indian elephants. This is needed in order to grow the famous Ceylon tea: people destroyed the elephants and cut down at the tea plantations whole jungle.

The pride of the elephant-its trunk!

You know what land mammal with the longest tongue? This is a great anteater! Language – the object of his pride and survival. He wielded it so deftly and quickly that his favourite food-ants – not the slightest chance to escape. If the anteaters a source of pride and sustenance is a very long tongue, elephant-trunk.

Elephants Have a really short neck, so to the ground they are unable to reach. Here them and rescues the trunk! With his long nose of these animals is quite cleverly rip off of tall trees, young shoots, and nibble on the grass. In addition, the trunk helps the animals to cool off in the heat: they collect water and drown myself.

the largest land mammal on earth

Also Drinking elephant with its trunk. But he needs not only for food and water. It's his olfactory organ. With the trunk the largest land mammal to be able to feel various smells at a distance of three kilometers. They also giant investigates any unfamiliar places.

In addition, trunk – this is a very terrible weapon of self-defense. However, battle elephants rarely resorted to his help because of their fearsome size and a powerful force doing their job! If an animal is in any danger, it immediately turns its trunk. If the elephant in the battle for one reason or another have lost part of their boast, that he likely will die of starvation.

Is it True that elephants sleepstanding?

Partly. For example, adult African elephants do sleep standing up, but young sometimes allows himself to lie down on his side. For a long time it was believed that the habit of sleeping standing up tied to a huge body mass of the animal, however, at present scientists are inclined to believe that the reason for this lies in the other.

It Is believed that the largest land mammal on Earth sleeps standing up because of the fear of overheating. The fact that the land in the African Savannah the day very very warm and at night just not time to cool down. In turn, elevated high above the ground a massive trunk of an elephant not only is blown by the fresh breeze, but does not receive unnecessary additional animal heat.

land mammal with the longest tongue

By the Way, the hardest night to get the old males, because they every year more and more difficult during sleep to support the weight of his impressive head, the additionally weighted large tusks. Young elephants sleep next to a termite mound, put them on their tusks. Some of them just rely on their thick branches of the African trees. It is worth noting that Indian fellow of the African elephant can sleep lying on her stomach.

Why do they die?

Because in the wild the largest land mammal is unmatched, and the enemies he seems to be should not be. In principle, almost so. The exception is people. People prey on adult elephants primarily for their valuable tusks. The fact that the huge demand for ivory has coincided with the invention of a man of powerful guns. Then began a massacre.

On the verge of extinction

For a small period of time the man had destroyed several hundred thousand of these mighty animals. Currently, hunting of elephants is strictly limited, and in some countries completely prohibited completely. But this, of course, did not bother the poachers, who continue to shoot land of the giants 15 000 a year. As mentioned above, and Indian and African elephants listed in the Red book.

what land mammal

They have enemies besides man?

Of Course. Even the biggest land mammal animal has its enemies among the other animals. Think it's African lions, hyenas or Indian tigers? No! This land leeches-bloodsuckers. Yes, you heard right! So. To feast on fresh blood, these creatures cling to the rough skin of an elephant, causing the animal great discomfort.

Elephants, in turn, is also not asleep. They figured out how to get rid of these pesky parasites. Zoologists tell us that watching this – a pleasure: elephant with his trunk takes any stick and scratching it across his rough skin. Curiously, if he can't fight off the parasite on their own, to help him in a hurry the other elephant, which is exactly the same with trunk and sticks "rescues from troubles” of their own kind.


Article in other languages:

BE: https://tostpost.com/be/nav-ny-gramadstva/17615-samae-vyal-kae-nazemnae-mlekakormyachyh-zhyvela-svece.html

DE: https://tostpost.com/de/news-und-gesellschaft/17420-das-gr-te-berland-s-ugetier-tier-in-der-welt.html

ES: https://tostpost.com/es/noticias-y-sociedad/17369-el-mayor-mam-fero-terrestre-de-animal-en-el-mundo.html

KK: https://tostpost.com/kk/zha-aly-tar-o-am/17670-e-lken-suhoputnoe-mlekopitayuschee-zhanuar-lemdeg.html

PL: https://tostpost.com/pl/aktualno-ci-i-spo-ecze-stwo/18221-najwi-ksza-piesza-ssak-zwierz-na-wiecie.html

PT: https://tostpost.com/pt/not-cias-e-sociedade/18105-o-maior-suhoputnoe-animal-mam-fero-do-mundo.html

TR: https://tostpost.com/tr/haber-ve-toplum/17625-en-b-y-k-suhoputnoe-memeli-hayvan-d-nyan-n.html

UK: https://tostpost.com/uk/novini-ta-susp-l-stvo/17859-nayb-l-sha-suhoputna-tvarina-v-sv-t.html






Alin Trodden - author of the article, editor
"Hi, I'm Alin Trodden. I write texts, read books, and look for impressions. And I'm not bad at telling you about it. I am always happy to participate in interesting projects."

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