Animal Facts > Elephant

The elephant is the largest of all land animals. There are 3 species of elephant, the African Savannah elephant, the African Forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. The gestation period for an elephant is 20 - 22 months and it is common for a newborn elephant calf to weigh 265 pounds. The lifespan of an elephant can be up to 70 years.

The tusks of the elephant are upper incisors that grow about seven inches a year and can reach up to ten feet in lenth and weigh as much as two hundred pounds. The other identifying characteristic feature is the trunk which can pull up to three gallon of water for spraying or drinking. The trunk can also be used as a snorkel when the elephant is underwater.