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elephant
References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images & Videos
Illustration of an African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) shown in profile, highlighting its large ears, long trunk, and curved tusks, with a scale bar indicating size. Illustration of an African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) shown in profile, highlighting its large ears, long trunk, and tusks, with a scale bar beside it indicating 1 meter and 3 feet for size reference. Side view illustration of an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) with gray skin, large ears, and long curved tusks, shown next to a scale bar indicating 1 meter and 3 feet for size reference. Three Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) stand close together in lush green grass at Minneriya National Park, Sri Lanka. African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) standing on dry ground with its trunk raised, against a backdrop of green vegetation and distant hills. A timeline diagram shows the evolutionary history of modern elephants, depicting Gomphotherium as an ancient ancestor branching into the woolly mammoth, American mastodon, Asian elephant, African savanna elephant, and African forest elephant, with illustrations of each species and labeled time periods from the Eocene to the present. African savanna elephant feeding African elephant African savanna elephant and young
From hunter to protector in Thailand's Khao Sok National Park
At a Glance
Three Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) stand close together in lush green grass at Minneriya National Park, Sri Lanka.
elephant summary
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elephant: References & Edit History

Additional Reading

Jeheskel Shoshani (ed.), Elephants, rev. ed. (2000), begins with a discussion of elephant evolution and general biology and then goes on to cover topics including behaviour, communication, conservation, the role of elephants in human culture, and the ivory trade.

The Ultimate Guide: Elephants (1997), a video produced and directed for Discovery Channel by Ian Duncan, portrays elephants in the wild and also includes computer graphics and interviews with researchers.

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • Jeheskel (Hezy) Shoshani
    Professor of Biology, University of Asmara, Eritrea. Elephant Research Foundation. Author of numerous scientific and popular publications on elephants and other proboscideans.
  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Modified link of Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Aging: What We Can Learn From Elephants. Sep 26, 2026
Add new Web site: PNAS - A comprehensive genomic history of extinct and living elephants. May 22, 2026
Article revised and updated. Apr 13, 2026
Add new Web site: Cell Press - Current Biology - Elephant cognition. Mar 23, 2026
Described the design and apparent purpose of the specialized whiskers found on an elephant's trunk. Feb 13, 2026
Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Aging: What We Can Learn From Elephants. Jun 11, 2025
Questions and answers added. Mar 20, 2025
Add new Web site: Digital Repository of Scientific Institutes - Elephantidae phylogeny: morphological versus molecular results. Aug 23, 2024
Add new Web site: LiveScience - Elephants: Facts about Earth's largest living land animals. Sep 05, 2023
Add new Web site: A-Z Animals - Elephant. Nov 09, 2022
Add new Web site: World Wildlife Fund - Elephant. Aug 24, 2022
Removed media. Oct 29, 2021
Removed media. Aug 04, 2021
Corrected display issue. Mar 14, 2018
Media added. Sep 08, 2017
Media added. Apr 14, 2017
Add new Web site: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences - Kids Environment Kids Health - Elephant. Jan 26, 2017
Text describing the age of elephant sexual maturity and conditions under which male dispersal occurs added. Mar 04, 2015
Added video. Feb 06, 2015
Noted elephants' ability to recognize themselves in a mirror. Jul 03, 2014
Add new Web site: San Diego Zoo Animals - Elephant. Feb 10, 2014
Add new Web site: World Wide Fund For Nature - Elephant. Feb 10, 2014
Add new Web site: British Broadcasting Corporation - Elephant. Feb 10, 2014
Add new Web site: National Geographic - Animals - Elephant. Feb 10, 2014
Add new Web site: The Earth-Life Web - Elephant. Apr 30, 2013
Add new Web site: Buzzle.com - Interesting Facts about Elephants. Apr 30, 2013
Add new Web site: World Wildlife Fund - Elephant. Jan 16, 2013
Add new Web site: San Diego Zoo - Elephant. Jan 16, 2013
Add new Web site: Defenders of Wildlife - Elephant. Aug 20, 2012
Add new Web site: Science Kids - Fun Science and Technology for Kids! - Elephant Facts. Mar 16, 2012
Add new Web site: Science Kids - Fun Science and Technology for Kids - Elephant. Mar 15, 2012
Added photograph. Sep 09, 2011
Added new Web site: Animal Planet - Elephant. Apr 14, 2009
Added new Web site: How Stuff Works - Animals - Elephant. May 28, 2008
Article revised and updated. Apr 29, 2008
Added new Web site: Enchanted Learning - Elephant. Mar 14, 2008
Added new Web site: Animal Corner - Elephants. Feb 07, 2008
Media added. Nov 15, 2007
Article revised and updated. Jul 11, 2007
Media added. Jul 02, 2007
Article revised. Jul 16, 2004
Article revised. Feb 16, 2001
Article added to new online database. Jul 23, 1999
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