Elephants are noted for their large size, tusks and long trunk. Members of the elephant family were once highly successful, and during their peak they spread to all parts of the globe except Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica. The characteristic form of the skull, jaws, teeth, tusks, ears and digestive system of elephants are all part of the adaptive complex associated with the evolution of large body size. The skull, jaws, teeth, tusks, ears and digestive system of elephants are all part of the adaptive complex associated with the evolution of large body size. The skull, jaws, and teeth form a specialized system for crushing course plant material. The skull is disproportionately large compared with the size of the brain and has evolved to support the long muscular trunk and heavy dentation. The skull, is however, relatively light due to the presence in the upper cranium of interlinked air cells and cavities.

There are two species of elephants in two genera. The African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana) is distributed in Africa in the savanna grassland and forests south of the Sahara. The Asian Elephant (Elelphas maximus) is found in the Indian subcontinent, Indochina, Malaysia, Indonesia and South China, mostly in forest habitats.

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Family Elephantidae

• African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana)