Why Do Elephants Have Big Ears?
Elephants are large land mammals that belong to the family Elephantidae. Currently, elephants are the largest land animals in the world. A baby elephant usually weighs over two hundred and sixty pounds. However, there’s more to learn about these fascinating creatures.
The ears of an elephant are extremely large. On the average elephant, the ears can measure up to twenty-two feet. Contrary to popular belief, elephant’s ears are not that size to improve the mammals hearing. Rather, the size of the ears helps the elephants cool off.
Elephant Species
Currently, there are three different species of elephants. These species include the:
- Asian Elephant (also known as the Indian Elephant)
- African Forest Elephant
- African Bush Elephant
All these species live in extremely hot climates.
The size of an elephant’s body makes it harder for these animals to stay cool in these hot climates. Thus, the ears of an elephant are one example of how these creatures have evolved solutions for keeping cool.
The ears of an elephant have an immense amount of veins. When an elephant flaps its ears, this circulates blood throughout the veins. This circulation of blood cools an elephant. In fact, when an elephant flaps its ears, it can lower the body temperature of an elephant by as much as five degrees Fahrenheit.
Elephant's Trunks
The trunk of an elephant is also extremely important for the mammal’s everyday activities. The trunk is actually a fusion of the nose and upper lip, and it is the most vital appendage that the elephant has.
African elephants have two fingerlike projections at the tip of the trunk. This is different from the Asian elephant, which only has one fingerlike projection at the tip of the trunk.
An elephant can use its trunk for tasks that need both delicacy and strength. For example, an elephant can pick up a single flower with its trunk. On the other hand, the trunk is powerful enough to rip branches in half.
An elephant uses its trunk for a variety of different functions. An elephant uses the trunk to eat food. It rips the food into more manageable bites with the trunk. The trunk is also used to grab food out of branches.
If food is too high in a tree, the elephant will use its trunk to shake the tree until the food falls out. Elephants use their trunks for drinking or bathing as well. Water is sucked up through the trunk, and then it is blown into their mouths. If the elephant is bathing, the elephant blows the water onto its body.
An elephant can suck up to fifteen quarts of water using its trunk at a time. If an elephant has to swim across a body of water, the elephant can use its trunk as a snorkel.
Due to the size of an elephant’s trunk, the mammal also has a heightened sense of smell. An elephant will raise its trunk in the air and move it from side to side. By doing this, an elephant can smell the location of food, family members, and predators.
Elephants also use their trunks in social interactions, or in situations of danger. Elephants frequently greet other elephants with their trunks, almost like a handshake. A female elephant might use her trunk to pet or caress her baby elephant.
Elephants often play wrestle with their trunks. They also use their trunks in situations where they feel danger. For example, a raised trunk is usually a warning sign from an elephant. If an elephant has to defend itself, it will frequently flail its trunk at the source of the perceived danger.
So, now that you know a little more about elephants, such as why do elephants have big ears, you can appreciate these large mammals even more!