Elephants

 

Species Name: Loxodanta Aficana 

Common Name: African Bush Elephant 

Average Weight: 6000kg

Average Height: 3.2m

Evolutionary Histroy: 

The elephant has an interesting evolutionary history, tracking back to the ice-age where it evolved from the wholly mammoth into the many sub-species of elephants that we know today. Probably the most well known species of Elephant is the Loxodanta Africana more commonly known as the African Bush Elephant. This species of elephant lives in the savannah of Africa. 

The Loxodanta Africana has one of the largest brains of any species, which resulted in one of the largest skulls of any species as well. A study suggests that this occurred in 2 pulses. The first 26 million years ago when the Antarctic first froze over, causes Africa's rainforests to
transform into desserts and savannahs. The second pulse was believed to be 20 million years ago when the climate began to revert back to warmer and wetter. As continental shift was also occurring at this time which allowed the migration of many species, it is believed that a bigger brain may have been beneficial as it allows greater behavioral flexibility, however this is just a hypothesis. During the time the elephant brain was evolving it was no bigger than the size of a tapier. 

Where does the Elephant fit into the balance? 

The Loxodanta Africana is a key stone species. This means that it plays a key part in shaping the environment around it. It uses its strong tusks to knock over trees and break logs. This provides habitats for smaller species in the savannah. The elephant also frequents the water hole in the savannah in large herds as seen in the picture bellow. 

Loxodanta Africana are herbivores. They consume fruit and other plants when available, and eat grass in the dry season when little else is growing.