If you have read my previous posts you will be aware that I study Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus in the Asian elephant. I thought I would give you a brief introduction to the elephant, firstly elephant evolution and some of the differences between African and Asian elephants.
- Elephant evolution:
It has been suggested that the African elephant diverged before Asian elephants and mammoths, this would suggest that the Asian elephant is more closely related to the Mammoth than the African elephant.
- Differences between the African and the Asian elephant: (Information from: Fowler, M., et al. 2006)
African Asian
Weight: 4,000-7,000Kg 2,000-5,500Kg
Height at shoulder: 3-4 metres 2-3.5 metres
Ears: Larger Smaller
Teeth: Lozenge shaped loops Narrow compressed loops
Tusks: Both sexes, larger in males Males usually have tusks, vestigial in females
Trunk: Two "fingers" One "Finger"
- A little on poaching (Will discuss further later): I found this interesting image whilst searching the internet and thought I would share it. (Image from: http://www.scmp.com/infographics/article/1399263/everything-you-need-know-about-ivory-poaching#comment-57879)
References:
- Krause, J., et al. (2005). "Multiplex amplification of the mammoth mitochondrial genome and the evolution of Elephantidae." Nature 439(7077): 724-727.
- Fowler, Murray E., and Susan K. Mikota, eds. Biology, medicine, and surgery of elephants. Wiley. com, 2006.
- http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/elephants/about/evolution.php
- http://www.scmp.com/infographics/article/1399263/everything-you-need-know-about-ivory-poaching#comment-57879
