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African Bush Elephant

Loxodonta africana africana

Last updated: March 7, 2021
Verified by: AZ Animals Staff
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  4. African Bush Elephant

Can drink up to 50 gallons a day!

Continue Reading after the facts...


African Bush Elephant Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Proboscidea
Family
Elephantidae
Genus
Loxodonta
Scientific Name
Loxodonta africana africana

African Bush Elephant Conservation Status

  • Near Threatened

African Bush Elephant Locations

  • Africa
African Bush Elephant Locations

African Bush Elephant Facts

Prey
Grass, Fruit, Roots
Name Of Young
Calf
Group Behavior
  • Herd
Fun Fact
Can drink up to 50 gallons a day!
Estimated Population Size
300,000
Biggest Threat
Poaching and habitat loss
Most Distinctive Feature
Large, rounded ears
Other Name(s)
African Elephant
Gestation Period
20 - 24 months
Habitat
Forest, savannah and flood plains
Predators
Human, Lion, Hyena
Diet
Herbivore
Average Litter Size
1
Lifestyle
  • Diurnal
Common Name
African Bush Elephant
Number Of Species
1
Location
central and southern Africa
Slogan
Can drink up to 50 gallons a day
Group
Mammal

African Bush Elephant Physical Characteristics

Colour
  • Brown
  • Grey
Skin Type
Leather
Top Speed
25 mph
Lifespan
60 - 70 years
Weight
3,600kg - 5,400kg (7,900lbs - 12,000lbs)
Height
3m - 3.5m (10ft - 12ft)
Age of Sexual Maturity
11 - 20 years
Age of Weaning
6 - 18 months

African Bush Elephant Images

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African Bush Elephant Classification and Evolution

The African Bush Elephant is the largest of all living creatures on land today, with some individuals growing to weigh more than 6 tonnes. The Elephant is thought to have been named after the Greek word for ivory, meaning that Elephants were named for their uniquely long tusks. Although many of the ancestors of the African Bush Elephant became extinct during the last ice-age (including the Woolly Mammoth), there are three distinct species of Elephant remaining today which are the Asian Elephant (of which there are a number of sub-species), the African Bush Elephant and the African Forest Elephant. Although these two Elephant species are very similar, the African Bush Elephant is considered to be generally larger than the African Forest Elephant, which has rounder ears and straighter tusks.

African Bush Elephant Anatomy and Appearance

The African Bush Elephant is the largest known land mammal on Earth, with male African Bush Elephants reaching up to 3.5 metres in height and the females being slightly smaller at around 3 metres tall. The body of the African Bush Elephants can also grow to between 6 and 7 meters long. The tusks of an African Bush Elephant can be nearly 2.5 meters in length and generally weigh between 50 and 100 pounds, which is about the same as a small adult Human. African Bush Elephants have four molar teeth each weighing about 5.0 kg and measuring about 12 inches long. As the front pair of molars in the mouth of the African Bush Elephant wear down and drop out in pieces, the back pair shift forward and two new molars emerge in the back of the African Bush Elephant’s mouth. African Bush Elephants replace their teeth six times during their lives but when the African Bush Elephant is between 40 to 60 years old, it no longer has teeth and will likely die of starvation, which is sadly a common cause of death of Elephants in the African wilderness.

African Bush Elephant Distribution and Habitat

Although the historical range of its ancestors ranged right into the Arctic Circle, today the African Bush Elephant is mainly found in central and southern Africa in nomadic herds that wander the plains and grasslands of Africa grazing for food and searching for waterholes. Unlike the slightly smaller African Forest Elephant, the African Bush Elephant inhabits the grassy savanna plains and shrub-land of the African continent in groups that contain mothers and their calves. Generally, African Bush Elephant herds contain around 10 individuals but it is not uncommon for family groups to join together, forming a clan which can contain over 1,000 Elephants. This very social lifestyle means that the African Bush Elephants are less vulnerable on the open African plains.

African Bush Elephant Behaviour and Lifestyle

Not only is the African Bush Elephant an incredibly sociable mammal but it is also a very active one. African Bush Elephants are nomadic animals meaning that they are constantly on the move in search of food, so moving within these family herds allows them to have greater protection both from predators and from the elements. The trunk of the African Bush Elephant is one of its most distinguishing features and this extra long nose is not only flexible enough to gather and handle food but can also collect water. Its trunk, along with its tusks can also be used to defend itself from predators such as Lions, and to fight with other male African Bush Elephants during the mating season. African Bush Elephants are also considered to be highly intelligent and emotional animals displaying behaviours that include giving and receiving love, caring deeply for the young and grieving for dead relatives.

African Bush Elephant Reproduction and Life Cycles

African Bush Elephants tend to live relatively long lives, with the average life span being between 60 and 70 years, Female African Bush Elephants reach sexual maturity (are able to reproduce) after 10 or 11 years, but are thought to be most fertile between the ages of 25 and 45. Male African Bush Elephants however, often don’t reach sexual maturity until they are nearly 20 years old. After mating and a gestation period of up to 2 years, the female African Bush Elephant gives birth to a single calf (twins have been known but are extremely rare). The African Bush Elephant calf is nursed for 2 years but will remain under the guidance and protection of the herd until it is old enough to support itself (around 6 years old). It is at this point that the tusks of the African Bush Elephant calf will be starting to grow.

African Bush Elephant Diet and Prey

Despite its immense size, the African Bush Elephant is a herbivorous mammal meaning that it survives on a diet that solely consists of plants and plant matter. The bulk of the African Bush Elephant’s diet is comprised of leaves and branches that are stripped off the trees and bushes using its trunk. The African Bush Elephant also grazes on fruits and grasses and uses its immense tusks for digging for roots in the ground and to strip the bark of trees. Food is fed into its mouth using the trunk, and the large, flat teeth of the African Bush Elephant are then the perfect tool for grinding the vegetation and course plants down so that they can then be more easily digested.

African Bush Elephant Predators and Threats

The African Bush Elephant has no real natural predators to threaten its survival, mainly due to its sheer size and the fact that African Bush Elephants often remain within the safety of the herd. African Bush Elephants are Africa’s peaceful giants and can be seen co-inhabiting the African wilderness with other large mammals and birds, without problem. In the animal world, Lions and Hyenas may occasionally be able to pick off a young African Bush Elephant that has been separated from its mother and have also been known to attack adults that are old and sick and therefore more vulnerable. Humans that poach the African Bush Elephants for their ivory tusks, classifying them as one of the “African Big Five,” are the biggest threat to their survival along with habitat loss across the continent.

African Bush Elephant Interesting Facts and Features

In the early 19th century, the story of the African Bush Elephant was very different with their being up to 5 million individuals thought to have been roaming the African continent. However, due to the increased demand for ivory, Africa’s Bush Elephant population is thought to have fallen as much as 85% in some areas. The large ears of the African Bush Elephant are said by some to be shaped somewhat like Africa, but these large flaps of skin are not just for hearing, they are a vital tool in keeping the Elephant cool in the African heat. Like many of the herbivores found throughout Africa, the calves can walk at birth to maximise their chances of survival. An adult African Bush Elephant can drink up to 50 gallons of water every day, and is able to take 1.5 gallons of water into their trunks at a time.

African Bush Elephant Relationship with Humans

Sadly, due to an increase of outside interest in Africa and its exotic wonders (particularly towards the mid 20th century), the African Bush Elephant population took a devastating decline towards extinction. After having been brutally killed by poachers for years for their ivory, African Bush Elephants had vanished from much of their native habitat. In 1989 a worldwide elephant ivory hunting ban fell into place, after the populations had dropped so dramatically across the continent. In northern and central parts of Africa, the African Bush Elephant is now rare and confined to protected areas, and although the story is similar in the south, South African Elephant populations are thought to be doing better with an estimated 300,000 individuals in the region.

African Bush Elephant Conservation Status and Life Today

Today, although recovering, African Bush Elephant populations are still threatened from increasing levels of illegal poaching and habitat destruction. Deforestation in the African Bush Elephant’s territory means that the African Bush Elephants lose both their food and shelter making them more vulnerable in the wild. Despite the ban, African Bush Elephants are also constantly threatened by poachers hunting the elephants for their ivory tusks.

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African Bush Elephant FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Are African Bush Elephants herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores?

African Bush Elephants are Herbivores, meaning they eat plants.

What Kingdom do African Bush Elephants belong to?

African Bush Elephants belong to the Kingdom Animalia.

What phylum do African Bush Elephants belong to?

African Bush Elephants belong to the phylum Chordata.

What class do African Bush Elephants belong to?

African Bush Elephants belong to the class Mammalia.

What family do African Bush Elephants belong to?

African Bush Elephants belong to the family Elephantidae.

What order do African Bush Elephants belong to?

African Bush Elephants belong to the order Proboscidea.

What genus do African Bush Elephants belong to?

African Bush Elephants belong to the genus Loxodonta.

What type of covering do African Bush Elephants have?

African Bush Elephants are covered in Leathery skin.

Where do African Bush Elephants live?

African Bush Elephants live in central and southern Africa.

In what type of habitat do African Bush Elephants live?

African Bush Elephants live in forests, savannas, and floodplains.

What are some predators of African Bush Elephants?

Predators of African Bush Elephants include humans, lions, and hyenas.

How many babies do African Bush Elephants have?

The average number of babies an African Bush Elephant has is 1.

What is an interesting fact about African Bush Elephants?

African Bush Elephants can drink up to 50 gallons of water a day.

What is the scientific name for the African Bush Elephant?

The scientific name for the African Bush Elephant is Loxodonta africana africana.

What is the lifespan of an African Bush Elephant?

African Bush Elephants can live for 60 to 70 years.

What is a baby African Bush Elephant called?

A baby African Bush Elephant is called a calf.

How many species of African Bush Elephant are there?

There is 1 species of African Bush Elephant.

What is the lifespan of an African Bush Elephant?

African Bush Elephants can live for 60 to 70 years.

What is a baby African Bush Elephant called?

A baby African Bush Elephant is called a calf.

How many species of African Bush Elephant are there?

There is 1 species of African Bush Elephant.

What is the biggest threat to the African Bush Elephant?

The biggest threats to the African Bush Elephant are poaching and habitat loss.

What is another name for the African Bush Elephant?

The African Bush Elephant is also called the African elephant.

How many African Bush Elephants are left in the world?

There are 300,000 African Bush Elephants left in the world.

How fast is an African Bush Elephant?

An African Bush Elephant can travel at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour.

How to say African Bush Elephant in ...
Bulgarian
Африканският саванен слон
Czech
Slon africký
Danish
Afrikansk savanneelefant
German
Afrikanischer Elefant
English
Savannah Elephant, Bush Elephant
Spanish
Elefante africano de sabana
French
Éléphant d'Afrique
Finnish
Savanninorsu
Croatian
Afrički slon
Hungarian
Afrikai telefánt
Japanese
アフリカゾウ
Dutch
Afrikaanse olifant
Polish
Słoń afrykański
Portuguese
Elefante, Elefante-africano
Swedish
Afrikansk elefant
Turkish
Afrika fili
Sources
  1. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2011) Animal, The Definitive Visual Guide To The World's Wildlife
  2. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals
  3. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia
  4. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species
  5. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals
  6. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals
  7. David W. Macdonald, Oxford University Press (2010) The Encyclopedia Of Mammals
  8. African Bush Elephant Classification, Available here: http://science.jrank.org/pages/2427/Elephant.html
  9. Evolution Of Elephants, Available here: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/evolution-of-elephants.html
  10. Elephant Intelligence, Available here: http://www.suite101.com/content/elephant-evolution-and-intelligence-a167231
  11. African Elephant Information, Available here: http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/elephants/african_elephants/
  12. About African Bush Elephants, Available here: http://www.nature.org/animals/mammals/animals/elephant.html

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