What Are the Two Species of Elephants?

In general terms, elephants are typically divided into two main species: African and Asian.

It is possible to break down those two categories further, with the African elephant in particular breaking into various subdivisions. Some scientists estimate that there are five different subspecies within the African elephant species. However, these divisions are not yet officially accepted and are based on classifications that are not yet fully determined.

African Versus Asian Elephants

In terms of African versus Asian elephants, the division is fairly well delineated and no longer in question. The two species share many main characteristics, but also differ from one another in a few key ways.

Size

Asian elephants weigh a minimum of 4000 kg and stand approximately 3-4 meters tall at the shoulder.
African elephants typically weigh a minimum of around 3000 kg, and they stand 2 to 3.5 meters tall at the shoulder.

Appearance

Asian elephants have very wrinkly skin, upraised shoulders that are higher than their backs, large ears that lie back on their necks, and concave backs.
African elephants are smoother in appearance and have broad, straight or convex backs that are higher than their shoulders. Their ears are a great deal smaller and lie flat against their heads.

Tusks

Both male and female Asian elephants have tusks, although the males’ are larger.
With African elephants, the males have tusks, but the females do not. In some cases, females will have very small tusk growths, but nothing compared to the males.

Diet

Asian elephants eat mostly leaves off of trees.
African elephants eat grass.

Trunks

Asian elephants' trunks are more flexible and have two “finger-like” protrusions on the end for gripping food.
African elephants' trunks are more rigid and less flexible, and have only a single finger-like protrusion.

Now you know more about each of these species of elephants and how they differ from each other.