Asian Elephant Adaptations

By: Chelsea Pike

What Does Adaptation Mean?

Adaptation means:The special characteristics that enable plants and animals to be successful in a

particular environment are called adaptations.

Massive Size

Elephants' massive size is a great anti-predator adaptation. Although

technically prey animals, rather than predatory ones, adults are so large that

they're invulnerable to attacks from wild animals. Humans are the only

predator that can threaten them. However, baby elephants can be attacked

and killed by animals such as lions, tigers and hyenas. To stop calves being

harmed, adults in a herd will group the young together and form a protective

circle around them.

Special TrunksNot only does it help elephants to reach food

high up in branches, it also allows them to get

to food and water on the ground, which they

otherwise wouldn't be able to access.

Additionally, they use their trunks to make

calls and other sounds to communicate with

one another and warn their herd about any

potential threats.

Tough Tusks

Although their tusks can bring elephants some trouble, as

they're also very useful. They use them to strip bark and

soft wood off trees, which they subsequently eat. Their

tusks can also help them to survive through dry spells, as

they use them to bore down into the earth and find water

in dry riverbeds.

Floppy Ears

Elephants live in hot conditions and need to be able to cool

themselves down. Since they're unable to sweat, they've adapted

another solution. They flap their large ears to help cool the blood in

their capillaries and distribute the cooler blood through their bodies.

This process can lower their blood temperature by more than 10F

Although Asian elephants have smaller ears than their African

cousins, the process is still as effective.

Infrasound Calls

Asian elephants also have very low-pitched sounds called

infrasound, that help them to communicate with each other.

These sounds are below the range that humans can hear. A keen

sense of smell and good hearing makes up for their poor

eyesight due to their small eyes. These calls occurred in a

variety of circumstances. These calls may be important in the

coordination of behavior in thick vegetation or among separated

groups of elephants

Interesting Diet

Since Asian elephants are strictly herbivorous, they have also

developed large molars in their mouths that are used primarily for

chewing and grinding very fibrous plant materials like the cellulose

that makes up plant cell walls. Elephants eat between 330 and 375 lb. of vegetation daily. Sixteen to

eighteen hours, or nearly 80% of an elephant’s day is spent feeding.

Elephants consume grasses, small plants, bushes, fruit, twigs, tree

bark, and roots. Tree bark is a favorite food source for elephants. It

contains calcium and roughage, which aids digestion.

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