Editing Elephant (section)

{{Short description|Largest living land animal}}
{{Hatnote|This article is primarily about living elephants, for their close extinct relatives, see [[Elephantidae]], for other uses, see [[Elephant (disambiguation)]]}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Paraphyletic group
| name = Elephants
| image = African Bush Elephant.jpg
| image_caption = A female [[African bush elephant]] in [[Mikumi National Park]], Tanzania
| auto = yes
| fossil_range = {{Fossil range|Late Miocene | Present}}
| parent = Elephantidae
| includes = * ''[[African elephant|Loxodonta]]'' <small>Anonymous, 1827</small>
* ''[[Elephas]]'' <small>[[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]]</small>
* {{extinct}}''[[Palaeoloxodon]]'' <small>Matsumoto, 1925</small>
| excludes = * {{extinct}}''[[Mammuthus]]'' <small>Brookes, 1828</small>
| range_map = Loxodonta Elephas distribution.png
| range_map_caption = Distribution of living elephant species
}}

'''Elephants''' are the [[Largest and heaviest animals|largest]] living land animals. Three living [[species]] are currently recognised: the [[African bush elephant]] (''[[Loxodonta]] africana''), the [[African forest elephant]] (''L. cyclotis''), and the [[Asian elephant]] (''[[Elephas]] maximus''). They are the only surviving members of the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Elephantidae]] and the [[Order (biology)|order]] [[Proboscidea]]; extinct relatives include [[mammoth]]s and [[mastodon]]s. Distinctive features of elephants include a long [[proboscis]] called a trunk, [[tusk]]s, large ear flaps, pillar-like legs, and tough but sensitive grey skin. The trunk is [[Prehensility|prehensile]], bringing food and water to the mouth and grasping objects. Tusks, which are derived from the incisor teeth, serve both as weapons and as tools for moving objects and digging. The large ear flaps assist in maintaining a constant body temperature as well as in communication. African elephants have larger ears and concave backs, whereas Asian elephants have smaller ears and convex or level backs.

Elephants are scattered throughout [[sub-Saharan Africa]], South Asia, and Southeast Asia and are found in different habitats, including [[savanna]]hs, forests, deserts, and [[marsh]]es. They are [[herbivorous]], and they stay near water when it is accessible. They are considered to be [[keystone species]], due to their impact on their environments. Elephants have a [[fission–fusion society]], in which multiple family groups come together to socialise. Females (cows) tend to live in family groups, which can consist of one female with her calves or several related females with offspring. The leader of a female group, usually the oldest cow, is known as the [[Matriarchy|matriarch]].

Males (bulls) leave their family groups when they reach puberty and may live alone or with other males. Adult bulls mostly interact with family groups when looking for a mate. They enter a state of increased [[testosterone]] and aggression known as [[musth]], which helps them gain [[Dominance (ethology)|dominance]] over other males as well as reproductive success. Calves are the centre of attention in their family groups and rely on their mothers for as long as three years. Elephants can live up to 70 years in the wild. They [[Elephant communication|communicate]] by touch, sight, smell, and sound; elephants use [[infrasound]] and [[seismic communication]] over long distances. [[Elephant cognition|Elephant intelligence]] has been compared with that of [[primate]]s and [[cetacea]]ns. They appear to have [[self-awareness]], and possibly show concern for dying and dead individuals of their kind.

African bush elephants and Asian elephants are listed as [[Endangered species (IUCN status)|endangered]] and African forest elephants as [[critically endangered]] on the [[IUCN Red List]]s. One of the biggest threats to elephant populations is the [[ivory trade]], as the animals are [[Poaching|poached]] for their ivory tusks. Other threats to wild elephants include [[habitat destruction]] and conflicts with local people. Elephants are used as [[working animal]]s in Asia. In the past, they were used in war; today, they are often controversially put on display in zoos, or employed for entertainment in [[circus]]es. Elephants have an iconic status [[Cultural depictions of elephants|in human culture]] and have been widely featured in art, folklore, religion, literature, and popular culture.