Elephant

Asian Elephants, Ad Meskens via Wikimedia Commons

on January 25, 2010

Design

Elephant

Since the elephant uses its trunk for numerous reasons, God designed it with over 100,000 muscle units. This powerful tool can uproot trees, dig pits to find water, and even cripple an attacker. It can also perform very gentle tasks, like picking up berries and small leaves. Elephants also use their trunks to suck up water and dust. They drink or clean themselves with water. They blow the dust over their backs to protect them from the sun and insects. The elephant’s large ears help cool the animal by providing a wide surface area for heat to escape the body and by fanning its body.

Features

  • African elephants are larger than Asian elephants and they even have larger ears and tusks. The head of the African elephant is tapered in the middle in comparison to the dome-shaped Asian elephant’s head.
  • Both male and female elephants have tusks (all except the Asian female).

Fun Facts

  • Elephants have the largest nose in the world. It has the capacity to hold 6 gallons (23 l) of water.
  • Elephants are either right-tusked or left-tusked, just as humans are right- or left-handed.

Created Kind Members

Extinct mammoths and mastodons

CLASS: Mammalia (mammal)
ORDER: Proboscidea (elephant)
FAMILY: Elephantidae
GENUS/SPECIES: Elephas maximus and Loxodonta africana (Asian and African)

Size: African: 13 ft (4 m) tall; Asian: 8–11 ft (2.5–3.5 m) tall
Weight: African: 7–8 tons (4,500–7,500 kg); Asian: 2–5 tons (2,000–5,000 kg)
Original Diet: Plants
Present Diet: Plants
Habitat: Mostly the savannas of Africa and the tropical forests and plains of Asia

Zoo Guide

Make your next visit to the zoo more than just fun—make it factual and fascinating too! You could even start a personal “creation zoo tours” ministry. Featuring more than 100 animals, our long-awaited Zoo Guide includes beautiful pictures and explores the amazing facts and design features that point to our awesome Creator. Excellent gift for any one who loves animals!

Browse Kids Book