Elephant questions and answers - Things that you should know

All information about elephants that you probably didn't know. Let's check out our list of elephant questions and answers to know more about these mammals. Random interesting facts.

What do we call baby elephants?

calves 

Baby elephants are called calves. At birth, they can weigh up to 100kg.

A puggle is a baby echidna (or platypus), a leveret is a baby hare and a porcupette is a baby porcupine. 

What genus does the African elephant belong to?

Loxodonta 

There are 2 different species within the genus Loxodonta and these are "africana" and "cyclotis". Canis is the genus for dogs, including wolves and coyotes. Homo is the genus of us humans. Elephas is the genus of the Indian/Asian elephant.

At what age does a female African elephant reach sexual maturity?

ten 

Male African elephants reach sexual maturity between the ages of twelve and fifteen. It's the same for male Asian elephants. Female Asian elephants start breeding between the ages of twelve and fourteen.

While female elephants live in herds of between five and ten individuals, males live alone. 

You can also check out elephant facts to get more interesting and fun information about elephants.

What continent do African elephants live on?

Africa 

Savannah elephants are found in 37 countries in Africa in zones called the "Savannah zones" which are found south of the Sahara desert. Forest elephants live in the rain forests of west and central Africa. 

Elephants live in a social group that consists of cows and their daughters. These groups are led by the oldest female. 

What's an elephant's average lifespan?

between 60 and 80 years 

While droughts and predators (including humans) kill hundreds of elephants every year, the average lifespan is somewhere between sixty and eighty years. Elephants are social animals and, like us, they grieve when a loved one dies.

How long is an elephant's gestation period?

twenty-two months 

At twenty-two months, elephants have the longest known gestation period for any animal. Although the calf is fully developed by the 19th month, it will not be born for another three months. By this time, it will have grown big enough to be able feed from its mother. 

What is the title given to the female that leads the herd?

Matriarch 

Matriarchs are often the eldest females in the group. They become leaders because they have years of experience and remember where water, food, and important minerals are. They also help calm first time elephant mothers because they have had the same experience. The matriarch is also the grandmother and sometimes great grandmother of some of the females in the herd. 

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