Elephas maximus maximus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular names
English : Sri Lankan elephant
French : Eléphant du Sri Lanka

Classification
Class : Mammalia
Order : Proboscidea
Family : Elephantidae
Notes : 4 other subspecies known.

Identification
Adult males can reach 6.4 m in length, 3.4 m in shoulder height and weight up to 6 tons. Two pronounced humps on top of forehead, small folded ears. Only males have tusks. Coloration brown-grey often with depigmented areas, especially around the trunk.

Range and habitat
This subspecies is endemic to Sri Lanka. The species is also found from India to south China, south to Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra. Mostly found in forests, also in woodlands, shrublands and grasslands.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : ENDANGERED
CITES : Appendix I
Status : The species has significantly declined because of poaching and reduction of habitat. The species’ range is highly fragmented today. Sumatran subspecies seems to be the most threatened at this time.
Ex-Situ Programs : SSP in America, EEP in Europe

Observation

 

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