Elephant is a mammalian animal that makes up the family Elephantidae of the order of the proboscis. Traditionally, two species are recognized, the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) and the African elephant (Loxodonta africana); however, some evidence suggests that the African savanna elephant (L. africana) and the African forest elephant (L. cyclotis) are also two separate species. Elephants are found in sub-Saharan Africa and South and Southeast Asia. From the order of the proboscis, which includes extinct species such as mammoths and mastodons, only elephants survive today. The African elephant male, the largest land-dwelling animal, can reach 4 m in length and 7,000 kg in weight. Among the remarkable and distinctive features of elephants is their long trunk, which is used for various purposes such as catching objects. They use their long and pointed incisors to move objects and dig the ground. These incisors, which are the source of ivory, are also used as weapons in combat. The elephant's large and wide ears are used to control body temperature. African elephants have larger ears and a concave back. Asian elephants have smaller ears and a convex or flat back.
