Elephant Chew

Elephant Chew

How heavy is an elephant?

The average elephant bull reaches a weight of 5.5 tonnes. Some men may be as heavy as 6.5 tons. Females averaged 3.5 to 4 tons.

How old do Elephant get?

The age varies from one area to another. In southern Africa normally reach 60-65 years. In Kenya and Tanzania about 70-75 years. The world record oldest elephant reached age of 86.

The reason why there is an age difference across countries is due to the type of vegetation that elephants are eating. The vegetation is softer, the longer the life of the animal.

Excluding the tusks of an elephant has 8 teeth in its' mouth, 4 molars on the top and 4 on the bottom. They eat on average 18 hours a day, to finally begin to crack and fall off the teeth. A new set of teeth and then replace all ages. An elephant goes through 6 sets of teeth during their life and at age 47, the last set will push. Once the last set Elephant fallen tooth starts rubbing the vegetation between its' gums to try break it down. The animal's condition deteriorates, as it can not chew their "properly foods for adequate nutrition and eventually dies.

Elephants in Kenya and Tanzania feed mainly on grass, which is his favorite food. The grass is soft on the teeth, so the Elephants last set of teeth to last a long time.

Elephants in South Africa, also prefer grass, but in the winter period when there is less grass to eat then start feeding more on leaves, roots and tree bark. This vegetation is much more difficult in the teeth so the last set of teeth do not last as long as elephants in Kenya and Tanzania.

How much elephant eat in a day?

A bull elephants eat up to 200 kg of food per day. Only 40% of it is digested as have a very weak digestive system. They eat an average of 18 hours a day.

How many muscles in a trunk Elephants?

Nobody knows 100% how many muscles there. I have heard two figures, one of the 40 0000 and another of 140 000 muscles. With so many muscles so close together that makes it hard to tell. What might look like 1 muscle could be a small group muscle.

So the correct answer would be "the elephant has thousands of trunk muscles.

How long is the gestation period of elephants?

The woman is pregnant at 22 months. The newborn calf suckles for 18 months or 2 years. The reason for such a long period is that the weaning of the many thousands of muscle they have in their trunks, which is very difficult for the calf to control. As the calf learns to use his trunk, it will start feeding more off vegetation and become less dependent on his mother's milk.

About the Author:

I am an ex-game ranger from South Africa. I have 2 awesome blogs packed with information on all sorts of wildlife in Africa. I also talk about encounters with dangerous game while doing bush walks. Visit my Blogs to find out more: www.safari-stories.blogspot.com and www.southafrican-wildlife.blogspot.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - African Elephant Facts