African Elephant

1. African Elephant By Heather Hall Ms. Hess PM March 7, 2012

2. Appearance • African Elephant Males stand 10–13 ft tall at the shoulder and weigh 10,000–13,330 lb. The females stand 7.2–8.5 ft tall and weigh 4,800–7,130 lb. • The African elephant can be identified from other elephants because it’s ears are shaped like the continent of Africa.

3. Habitat • The African elephant lives in Eastern, Southern and West Africa. • It can be found in in dense forests, mopane and miombo woodlands, Sahelian scrub or deserts

4. Diet • African elephants can eat up to 450 kilograms of vegetation per day. • They use their trunk to pluck at leaves and their tusks to tear at branches, which can cause enormous damage.

5. Interesting Facts • African Elephants live in family units made of around ten closely related females and their calves. Each family unit is led by an old female known as the matriarch. • African Elephants are amongst the world's most intelligent species. Their brains are similar to human brains.

6. References • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_elephant • http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/004/cache/african-elephant_435_600x450.jpg • http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/elephants/images/pic-diet-01.jpg • http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/photography/Elephant%20Album/WWFImgFullitem4438.jpg • http://www.theanimalfiles.com/images/african_elephant_range.jpg