AFRICAN

FOREST
ELEPHANT
African Forest Elephant Classification and
Evolution
The African Forest Elephant is one of two Elephant subspecies
found on the African continent. Although the African Forest
Elephant is slightly smaller than the African Bush Elephant, it is
still one of the largest animals found on land today. Although
these two Elephant species are very similar, the African Forest
Elephant is thought to have rounder ears and straighter tusks
than the African Bush Elephant, and it has been also noted that
the African Bush Elephant and the African Forest Elephant have
a different number of toe nails. Until recently though, they
were considered to be the same species.
 African Forest Elephant Anatomy and
Appearance
The African Forest Elephant is the one of the largest known
land mammals on Earth, with male African Forest Elephants
reaching nearly 3 metres in height and the female African
Forest Elephants around 2.5 metres. The tusks of an African
Forest Elephant can grow to nearly 1.5 meters long and
generally weigh between 50 and 100 pounds, which is about
the same as a small adult Human. They are thinner, straighter
and shorter than the tusks of the African Bush Elephant. African
Forest Elephants have four molar teeth each weighing about
5.0 kg and measuring about 12 inches long. They have large
rounded ears which are used both for hearing and to keep
them cool.

African Forest Elephant Distribution and

Habitat
The African Forest Elephant mainly lives in central and southern
Africa in nomadic herds that wander through the forests and
grasslands of Africa grazing for food and searching for
waterholes. They are most commonly founds in the tropical
 dense jungles, where their smaller size allows them to move
through the thick vegetation more easily than the larger African
Bush Elephant. African Forest Elephants are threatened
throughout much of their natural habitat today mainly due to
deforestation and climate change and have been pushed into
smaller and smaller pockets of their native lands.

African Forest Elephant Facts

Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Proboscidea
Family:Elephantidae
Genus:Loxodonta
Scientific Name:Loxodonta cyclotis
Common Name:African Forest Elephant
Other Name(s): African Elephant
Group:Mammal
Number Of Species: 1
Location: central and southern Africa
Habitat:Forest, savannah and flood plains
Colour:Grey, Brown
Skin Type: Leather
Size (H):2m - 3m (6.6ft - 9.8ft)
Weight:900kg - 3,000kg (1,984lbs - 6,613lbs)
Top Speed:39km/h (24mph)
Diet:Herbivore
Prey:Grass, Fruit, Roots
Predators:Human, Lion, Hyena
Lifestyle:Diurnal
Group Behaviour: Herd
Life Span:60 - 70 years
Age Of Sexual Maturity: 11 - 20 years
Gestation Period: 22 - 24 months
Average Litter Size: 1
Name Of Young: Calf
Age Of Weaning: 5 years
Conservation Status:Endangered
Estimated Population Size: 200,000
Biggest Threat: Poaching and habitat loss
Most Distinctive Feature: Rounded ears and thin, straight tusks
Fun Fact: The largest known mammal on land!