Elephant Anatomy
Elephants are the largest animals that live on land!
The average forest elephant is...
- 6000 lbs (heavier than a minivan!)
- 8 ft tall
- 11 ft long
The average forest elephant is...
- 6000 lbs (heavier than a minivan!)
- 8 ft tall
- 11 ft long
Scroll over the different elephant body parts to read their descriptions.
Trunk
This is an elephant’s most useful body part! A trunk is an elongation of the nose and upper lip. Elephants use their trunks to:
- smell
- bring water to their mouths to drink
- store water to drink later
- dig holes
- spray water over their bodies to bathe
- breathe air (like a snorkel) when swimming
- pick up branches, plant leaves, fruits, and other foods to eat
- knock over trees (trunks are very muscular and powerful!)
- greet other elephants (touch trunks!)
- help move baby elephants, especially if they get stuck in the mud
- toss dirt and mud onto their backs to protect against the sun and insects
- make sounds, like loud trumpet calls
- playfully wrestle or fight with each other
Ears
Elephant ears are very thin, full of blood vessels and important to help keep elephants cool. They are specialized to hear very low sounds.
Lips
Elephants use their lips to hold onto plants while eating.
Tusks
Tusks are teeth that stick out from the elephant’s mouth. They are made of a special material called ivory. Elephants use tusks to:
- dig in the ground for water, minerals, and roots
- crack open hard-shelled fruits
- peel bark off trees to eat or to mark territories
- fight
Feet
Elephant feet must be large and strong to support the weight of the elephant’s body.
Tail
Elephants have long tails ending in tufts of hair which they swing back and forth to
swat away irritating insects.
Skin
Elephant skin is especially thick and tough. To protect their skin, elephants cover their bodies with dust or mud to act as sunscreen and insect repellent. They also spray water over their bodies to keep their skin from drying out.
Eyes
Elephant eyesight is generally poor, and may be best in dim light.
Teeth
Instead of losing baby teeth one at a time like humans, elephant teeth move from the back of the mouth, like a conveyor belt, to push out and replace front teeth. Elephant teeth are large, flat and good for grinding
plant material.
This is an elephant’s most useful body part! A trunk is an elongation of the nose and upper lip. Elephants use their trunks to:
- smell
- bring water to their mouths to drink
- store water to drink later
- dig holes
- spray water over their bodies to bathe
- breathe air (like a snorkel) when swimming
- pick up branches, plant leaves, fruits, and other foods to eat
- knock over trees (trunks are very muscular and powerful!)
- greet other elephants (touch trunks!)
- help move baby elephants, especially if they get stuck in the mud
- toss dirt and mud onto their backs to protect against the sun and insects
- make sounds, like loud trumpet calls
- playfully wrestle or fight with each other
Ears
Elephant ears are very thin, full of blood vessels and important to help keep elephants cool. They are specialized to hear very low sounds.
Lips
Elephants use their lips to hold onto plants while eating.
Tusks
Tusks are teeth that stick out from the elephant’s mouth. They are made of a special material called ivory. Elephants use tusks to:
- dig in the ground for water, minerals, and roots
- crack open hard-shelled fruits
- peel bark off trees to eat or to mark territories
- fight
Feet
Elephant feet must be large and strong to support the weight of the elephant’s body.
Tail
Elephants have long tails ending in tufts of hair which they swing back and forth to
swat away irritating insects.
Skin
Elephant skin is especially thick and tough. To protect their skin, elephants cover their bodies with dust or mud to act as sunscreen and insect repellent. They also spray water over their bodies to keep their skin from drying out.
Eyes
Elephant eyesight is generally poor, and may be best in dim light.
Teeth
Instead of losing baby teeth one at a time like humans, elephant teeth move from the back of the mouth, like a conveyor belt, to push out and replace front teeth. Elephant teeth are large, flat and good for grinding
plant material.