Kruger National Park

How do African and Asian elephants differ?

	Asian elephant Elephas maximus	African elephant Loxodonta Africana

Weight of males	Smaller - 3 000 - 5 000 kg	Larger - weighs between 4 000 - 6 300 kg
Height at shoulder	Shorter - 2 - 3.5m	Taller - 3 - 4m
Highest point	Top of head	Top of shoulder
Shape of back	Convex (bends up) or level. Humped.	Concave (bends down). Curved.
Shape of head	Compressed, dorsal bulges, dished forehead. Two bumps	No compression, no bulges, no dish. One bump
Ears	Small (do not exceed the height of the neck)	Large (exceeding height of neck)
Skin	Wrinkled	Very wrinkled
Teeth	Narrow compressed loops on chewing surface	Lozenge-shaped loops on chewing surface
Tusks	Only in males.	In both sexes, longer in males.
Trunk	Less rings, more rigid. Tip of trunk has one ‘finger'. Wrinkled.	Has more rings, less rigid. Tip of trunk has two ‘fingers'. Distinct ring patterns.
Toenails	Front foot: 5 Hind foot: 4 or 5	Front foot: 4 or 5 Hind foot, 3, 4 or 5
Ribs	Up to 20 pairs	Up to 21 pairs