Asian Elephant

Elephas maximus

Explore the Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) species record in The Ark Is Earth, including classification, habitat, distribution, conservation information, and sources.

Summary

The Asian Elephant is a large herbivorous mammal of Asian forests and grasslands, including India and Thailand. Its trunk functions in feeding, drinking, communication, and handling objects, while family groups travel widely in search of vegetation and water. By dispersing seeds and altering vegetation it is an ecosystem engineer, but it is listed as Endangered because of habitat loss and conflict with people.

Classification in this archive

Animals › Chordates › Mammals › Proboscidea › Elephantidae › Elephas

Habitat and distribution

Habitat: forest, grassland
Regions in this record: Asia, India, Thailand

Conservation field in this record

Endangered

Demonstration note

[DEMO] Asian elephants have trunks for reaching food and water.