African vs Asian elephants – 7 visual differences

Elephants living in Africa are different from elephants living in Asia. In this article, we will learn what are some visual differences between the African and Asian elephants. Let’s read.

African vs Asian elephants – 7 visual differences

Head shape

African elephants have a more rounded head shape while Asian elephants have a twin-domed head.

Ears

African elephants have relatively larger ears. The contour of their ears roughly resembles the shape of Africa. Their large ears help in removing heat from the body. Asian elephants, too, have large ears, but not as large as African elephants.

Trunk

African elephants have two fingers at the tip of their trunks, whereas Asian elephants have one.

Back

African elephants have straighter or concave-shaped backs, whereas Asian elephants have convex-shaped backs.

Tusks

Both male and female African elephants can have large tusks, whereas only male Asian elephants can have large tusks. Female Asian elephants may have barely visible tusks, known as tushes. Sometimes even male Asian elephants, especially in Sri Lanka, are not able to develop tusks due to a genetic disorder.

Skin

The skin of Asian elephants is smoother than that of African elephants. African elephants have more wrinkled skin. Also Asian elephants can have more body hair.

Size

African bush elephants are the largest among all elephant species, followed by Asian elephants. Male African bush elephants are taller than 3 meters and can weigh more than 8 tonnes. African forest elephants are smaller than most Asian elephants but can still weigh more than 4 tonnes.

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