Indian elephant
Elephas maximus indicus
ok. 250 cmAdult male
at the shoulder
at the shoulder
- Mass
- 3 500–6 000 kgSamce
Indian elephant — size comparison
The Indian elephant, Elephas maximus indicus, is a mainland subspecies of the Asian elephant. It inhabits the Indian subcontinent and mainland South-East Asia,
Silhouette comparison
Height
Ground barkReference values · details in the profiles
HeightScale in m
00,511,522,5
approx. 250 cm
The scale compares the named dimensions. View direction and measurement points are given for each animal.
Indian elephant — size comparison — facts and sources
The Indian elephant, Elephas maximus indicus, is a mainland subspecies of the Asian elephant. It inhabits the Indian subcontinent and mainland South-East Asia, using tropical and deciduous forests, scrub and grassy plains. It has a domed head, relatively small ears and a single grasping projection at the trunk tip.
A herbivore, it uses the trunk to gather grasses, leaves, branches, bark, roots and fruit at different heights. Reaching food and water requires movement across extensive areas, making natural routes between feeding grounds important to herds.
Females and young form family groups, while adult males more often live alone. Males are larger and more likely to have conspicuous tusks. Pinkish areas of reduced pigmentation may occur on the forehead, ears and trunk, varying in distribution between individuals.
Animal Diversity Web podaje dla samców słonia azjatyckiego 2,4–3,0 m wysokości oraz 3 500–6 000 kg. Na planszy przyjmujemy zachowawcze 250 cm w barku, bliżej dolnej części zakresu, zamiast wyjątkowo dużego osobnika. Gatunek żyje w lasach, zaroślach i na trawiastych terenach Azji.