The Sri Lankan Elephant

The Sri Lankan Elephant
Elephas maximus maximus

The description of the Sri Lankan Elephant

Big bones, broad chest, broad and long cheeks and well built body shows the signs long life. Whenever an elephant is met for the first time the hugeness of these attractive animals comes to ones mind. The weight of the Sri Lankan elephant is generally between 3000-5000 kilograms. Only a certain percentage of males have well developed tusks. Out of the Sri Lankan elephants only 5%-10% have tusks. The elephant is clam and honorable. The Average height of an adult Sri Lankan male elephant is about 8.5ft.( app. 2.5 meters). There are records that some elephants have been reached up to 10ft. ( app. 3 meters). Average height of an adult female is about 8ft. ( app. 2.4 meters ). While it is 2 ½- 3 ½ meters in height its length from eyebrows to the tail is the same. The circumference of the front foot when multiplied by two is the traditional way of finding the height of an elephant up to the Shoulders.

The difference between Asian elephant and African elephant

African and Asian elephants differ in size, color, and other physical characteristics. The African elephant can be recognized by its larger size and broader ears that drape over its shoulders. Males may reach 4 m (13 ft) in height and weigh 7000 kg (15,400 lb). Females are shorter, averaging 2.8 m (9 ft) in height, and weigh considerably less, about 3600 kg (7900 lb). African elephants are light gray in color, although they can appear dark gray, red, or brown from the mud they bathe in. They have a low, flat forehead and a slightly swayed back. Their fan-shaped ears average 1.5 m (5 ft) in length and 1.2 m (4 ft) in width. Both males and females have long, curved tusks.
Asian elephants are shorter and stockier than their African counterparts, with ears that do not reach their shoulders. The average Asian male stands 3 m (10 ft) tall and weighs 2300 kg (5100 lb), about half the weight of male African elephants. Females reach an average height of 2.4 m (7.8 ft) and weigh an average of 3000 kg (6600 lb). Asian elephants have dark gray skin, a bulbous forehead, and a rounded back. Ear size averages 0.75 m (2.5 ft) long and 0.6 m (2 ft wide). Some males doesn't have tusks while the female’s tusks may be either absent or undeveloped.