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Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)

Mammals

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Asian Elephant, also known as the Asiatic elephant, is the only living species in the genus Elephas and the largest living land animal in Asia, as well as the second largest living elephantid in the world. It is characterized by a long trunk with a single finger-like process, large tusks in males, laterally folded large ears and wrinkled grey skin partly depigmented on the trunk, ears or neck; adult males average four tonnes in weight and females 2.7 tonnes, and the species has a large, well-developed neocortex, being highly intelligent and self-aware with behaviors associated with grief, learning and greeting documented. Three subspecies are recognized: E. m. maximus, E. m. indicus and E. m. sumatranus.

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