African Savanna Elephant
Loxodonta africana
A huge plant-eater of Africa that lives in family herds led by an older female. African elephants are the largest mammals on land.
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About the African Savanna Elephant
African savanna elephants live in eastern, central and southern Africa in forests, woodlands, flood plains and savannas. An adult can eat 165 to 330 pounds of plants and drink 20 to 50 gallons of water in a single day. Herds are made of related females and their young, led by an older female called the matriarch. Both males and females grow tusks, which they use for defense, digging for food and water, and lifting.[1]
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Loxodonta africana[1]
- Size
- Males stand about 10 to 10.5 feet (3 to 3.2 m) at the shoulder. Females stand up to 8 feet (2.4 m).[1]
- Weight
- Males: 12,000 to 15,000 pounds. Females: up to about 8,000 pounds (3,600 kg).[1]
- Lifespan
- Median life expectancy is 38 to 47 years.[1]
- Diet
- Herbivore. Eats grasses, sedges, flowering plants, leaves, shrubs and trees: about 165 to 330 pounds (75 to 150 kg) of food a day.[1]
- Habitat
- Forests, flood plains, woodlands and savannas.[1]
- Where it lives
- Eastern, central and southern Africa.[1]
- Group life
- Herds of related females and their young, led by a matriarch.[1]
- Babies
- Pregnancy lasts 20 to 22 months. A newborn calf weighs 110 to 264 pounds (50 to 120 kg).[1]
- Conservation status
- Endangered (IUCN Red List).[1]
Fun facts
- An elephant's trunk has eight major muscles on each side and about 150,000 muscle fascicles (bundles of muscle fibers).[1]
- Elephants make low rumbling calls that another elephant can hear up to 5 miles (8 km) away.[1]
- An elephant can drink 20 to 50 gallons (75 to 190 liters) of water in one day.[1]
- A baby elephant grows inside its mother for 20 to 22 months, almost two years, before it is born.[1]
Vocabulary
- matriarch
- The older female who leads a family group.
- herbivore
- An animal that eats only plants.
- herd
- A large group of animals of one kind that live and travel together.
- tusk
- A very long tooth that grows out of an animal's mouth.
- gestation
- The time a baby animal grows inside its mother before birth.
See it in person
- Montgomery ZooMontgomery, Alabama · AfricaSee this area on the zoo's website ↗
- Zoo AtlantaAtlanta, Georgia · All AnimalsSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗
Sources
- [1] San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. “African Elephant.” https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/elephant (accessed 2026-10-01)
Facts last checked 2026-10-01.