Indian Elephant

Taxobox
name = Indian Elephant
status=EN

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regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Proboscidea
familia = Elephantidae
genus = "Elephas"
species = "E. maximus"
subspecies = "E. m. indicus"
trinomial = "Elephas maximus indicus"
trinomial_authority = Cuvier, 1798The Indian Elephant, "Elephas maximus indicus", is one of four subspecies of the Asian Elephant, the largest population of which is found in India. This subspecies is also found in Bangladesh,Pakistan ,Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Laos, Peninsular Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The other three subspecies of the Asian Elephant are the Sumatran Elephant ("E. m. sumatranus"), Sri Lankan Elephant ("E. m. maximus") [ [http://www.honoluluzoo.org/indian_elephant.htm Honolulu Zoo Indian Elephant] ] and Borneo Elephant ("E. m. borneensis").

Habitat

Indian Elephants live in or near scrub-forested areas, although their habitat may vary. They tend to be nomadic in nature and do not stay in one place for more than a few days. They can live in jungles but gravitate towards areas that contain open space and grass.

Physical characteristics

The Indian Elephant is up to 6.4 metres (21 ft) long; it is taller and thinner than the Asian elephant found in Thailand. The largest Indian Elephant was 26ft (7.88m) long, stood convert|11|ft|m|abbr=on, 9in (3.61m) at the arch of the back, and weighed 8 tons (17935 lbs). [ [http://www.honoluluzoo.org/indian_elephant.htm Honolulu Zoo Indian Elephant] ] Indian elephants look similar to African elephants but they have smaller ears and shorter tusks. They are also the only elephant to be used by humans.Fact|date=April 2007.

Population & endangerment

The WWF considers the Indian Elephant widely distributed, but endangered. The current population of the Indian Elephant is in the range of 20,000-25,000 [ [http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/species/about_species/species_factsheets/elephants/asian_elephants/indian_elephant/index.cfm WWF - Indian elephant ] ] . The Indian Elephant was assessed as an endangered species in 1996 by the Asian Elephant Specialist Group. [ [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/7140/all 2007 IUCN Red List – Search ] ] Indian Elephants are threatened by poaching for the ivory of their tusks, by the loss of habitat due to human pressure on forested areas and due to human conflict. The isolated populations of wild elephants in individual wildlife sanctuaries are also threatened by loss of genetic diversity. Recently a number of corridors connecting wildlife sanctuaries have been established to encourage the migration of wild elephants. [ [http://www.india-wildlife-tours.com/wild-animals-in-india/indian-wildlife-indian-elephant.html Indian Elephant,Asian Elephant,Elephant in India,Asian Elephant India,Information on Indian Elephant,Endangered Animals in India,Asian Elephant Tours ] ]

ee also

* Asian Elephant
* Elephants in Kerala culture

References

* Shoshani J, Eisenberg JF (1982) Elephas maximus. Mammalian Species 182: 1–8. [http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biology/VHAYSSEN/msi/pdf/i0076-3519-182-01-0001.pdf Full text]
* [http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Elephas_maximus.html Animal Diversity. Elephas maximus.]
* [http://www.honoluluzoo.org/indian_elephant.htm Honolulu Zoo Indian Elephant]

External links

* [http://web.mac.com/nadjagrimm/iWeb/JWDC/Elephants%20.html Paintings of Indian Elephants]