Distinguishing Asian and African Elephants

By Dr.Sophia Yin, DVM, CAAB, M.S. Animal Science (1966-2014)

There are two different types of elephants, Asian and African. Up until my visit to Have Trunk Will Travel, I could never tell the difference. But Kari Johnson gave me a fool-proof method. Now I can’t believe I couldn’t distinguish between the two in the past.

Asian elephants have a humped back whereas African elephants have a sway back. You probably also notice from the photos that Asian elephants have shorter trunks, wider legs, and their leg does not taper much above the foot. Asian elephants have a bilobed forehead whereas Africans have domed head.

Tags: african, asian, back, bilobed, differences, distinguish, domed, ears, elephants, forehead, have trunk will travel, humped, sway, tell the difference

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