Asian elephant

(Elephas maximus)

Species, also called Asiatic elephant, belonging to the family of elephants, named by Carl Linnaeus, 1758.

Caracteristics of the asian elephant

• The neck is low, and then curving up
• The skin is less wrenkled
• Ears are small, looks like indian continent
• Head has two bumps
• Forehead is protruding
• The underlip is long, narrow and pointed
• Only abt 50% of bulls wear long tusks
• Females wear tushes or nothing
• 19 pairs of ribs (Sumatran subspecies 20)
• The frontfeet has five nails, the hindfeet four
      (like the african forest elephant)
• The trunktip has one prehensile protrusion

Compare with the african bush elephant!

Taxonomy and distrubition

Asian elephant is a species belonging to the family of elephants (Elephantidae), which is included in the mammal order Proboscidea. It was formerly called Indian elephant, which is a confusing name, since Asian elephants occur in 13 asian countries, from west India , to southern China, and in southeast from the malay peninsula to the islands Sumatra and Borneo, why "Indian" is unappropiate, and the name "Indian elephant" should be used only for the Indian subspecies.

So when speaking about the species (Elephas maximus), this species should be refered to as Asian elephant.

Population

Asian elephant was once distributed from Tigris and Euphrates Valleys of Syria and Iraq to the yellow river of China and South to Sumatra (Daniel, 1995).

Since the Asian elephant live in dense forest and djungles, is it much more difficult to estimate the present individual population number, but it is likely about 40 000 Asian elephants on earth. Of those, some 15-20 000 are kept in captivity. Europe has some 700 Asian elephants, and about the same amount is to be found in north american continent, the rest (apr. 13 500) are tame elephants in Asia.

Link: US: House Votes to Protect Elephants (H.R. 700 Asian Elephant Conservation Reauthorization Act (Concur in Senate Amendment))

Asian elephant Nika in Skansen Zoo, Stckholm, Sweden, 1989.

Recognized subspecies:

• Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatrensis)
• Borneo elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis)
• Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus)
• Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas maximus maximus)

Recommended literature:
The Asian Elephant: An Action Plan for Its Conservation by Charles Santiapillai, Peter Jackson, Iucn, Ssc Asian Elephant Specialist Group.

 

  Taxonomy How it started Tethytheria Proboscidea Moeritherium Palaeomastodon Phiomia Gomphoterium Mammoths Mastodons Trilophodon Stegodon Family elephants African bush African forest Asian (Indian) Crossbreed   Care Introduction Drinking Skincare Footcare   Medical Anatomy intro Lungs Dentition Diseases Anthrax Herpes virus Salmonella Elephant pox Rabies Footcare   Breeding Introduction Europe America Asia Insemination Studbook Breeding males Breeding females elephants born 1880 elephants born 1882 elephants born 1902 elephants born 1905 elephants born 1906 elephants born 1907 elephants born 1910 elephants born 1911 elephants born 1912 elephants born 1914 elephants born 1916 elephants born 1917 elephants born 1918 elephants born 1928 elephants born 1929 elephants born 1930 elephants born 1932 elephants born 1933 elephants born 1934 elephants born 1935 elephants born 1936 elephants born 1937 elephants born 1938 elephants born 1939 elephants born 1941 elephants born 1942 elephants born 1943 elephants born 1944 elephants born 1945 elephants born 1948 elephants born 1950 elephants born 1951 elephants born 1952 elephants born 1953 elephants born 1954 elephants born 1955 elephants born 1956 elephants born 1957 elephants born 1958 elephants born 1959 elephants born 1960 elephants born 1961 elephants born 1962 elephants born 1963 elephants born 1964 elephants born 1965 elephants born 1966 elephants born 1967 elephants born 1968 elephants born 1969 elephants born 1970 elephants born 1971 elephants born 1972 elephants born 1973 elephants born 1974 elephants born 1975 elephants born 1977 elephants born 1977 elephants born 1978 elephants born 1979 elephants born 1980 elephants born 1981 elephants born 1982 elephants born 1983 elephants born 1984 elephants born 1985 elephants born 1986 elephants born 1987 elephants born 1988 elephants born 1989 elephants born 1990 elephants born 1991 elephants born 1992 elephants born 1993 elephants born 1994 elephants born 1995 elephants born 1996 elephants born 1997 elephants born 1998 elephants born 1999 elephants born 2000 elephants born 2001 elephants born 2002 elephants born 2003 elephants born 2004 elephants born 2005 elephants born 2006 elephants born 2007 elephants born 2008 elephants born 2009 elephants born 2010   Elephant database Intro statistics Latest changes African forest Asian elephants All bulls All cows All captive born elephants born 1880 elephants born 1882 elephants born 1902 elephants born 1905 elephants born 1906 elephants born 1907 elephants born 1910 elephants born 1911 elephants born 1912 elephants born 1914 elephants born 1916 elephants born 1917 elephants born 1918 elephants born 1928 elephants born 1929 elephants born 1930 elephants born 1932 elephants born 1933 elephants born 1934 elephants born 1935 elephants born 1936 elephants born 1937 elephants born 1938 elephants born 1939 elephants born 1941 elephants born 1942 elephants born 1943 elephants born 1944 elephants born 1945 elephants born 1948 elephants born 1950 elephants born 1951 elephants born 1952 elephants born 1953 elephants born 1954 elephants born 1955 elephants born 1956 elephants born 1957 elephants born 1958 elephants born 1959 elephants born 1960 elephants born 1961 elephants born 1962 elephants born 1963 elephants born 1964 elephants born 1965 elephants born 1966 elephants born 1967 elephants born 1968 elephants born 1969 elephants born 1970 elephants born 1971 elephants born 1972 elephants born 1973 elephants born 1974 elephants born 1975 elephants born 1977 elephants born 1977 elephants born 1978 elephants born 1979 elephants born 1980 elephants born 1981 elephants born 1982 elephants born 1983 elephants born 1984 elephants born 1985 elephants born 1986 elephants born 1987 elephants born 1988 elephants born 1989 elephants born 1990 elephants born 1991 elephants born 1992 elephants born 1993 elephants born 1994 elephants born 1995 elephants born 1996 elephants born 1997 elephants born 1998 elephants born 1999 elephants born 2000 elephants born 2001 elephants born 2002 elephants born 2003 elephants born 2004 elephants born 2005 elephants born 2006 elephants born 2007 elephants born 2008 elephants born 2009 elephants born 2010   People Prehistoric E-H conflict Keepers Trainers Researchers Poloplayers Organizations   Network Elephant News Consultance EEKMA Aumpage
  Search: keyword and enter

Copyright © 1995-2010 - webdesign and search engine optimization by AumPage NetWork - All rights reserved - DisclaimerCheck speed

38.107.191.90Login Home - Start Guestbook Recent changes-updates Glossary - Encyclopedia Frequently asked questions Elephant Facts & Trivia Evolution of elephants Extinct Proboscidea Living Elephant Species Elephant anatomy Elephant diseases Man and elephants Elephant care Elephant footcare Elephant training Elephant breeding Elephant database Location database Virtual elephant Shiva Elephant organizations Elephant literature Elephant films & videos Elephant posters & pics Website elephant.se Elephant consultant Webring memberships Webmaster & Contact Selected links Elephant News