Animal Fact Sheets
African Elephant
Scientific Name
Habitat
Distribution
Diet
Longevity
Conservation Status
Loxodonta africana
Africa, south of the Sahara
Savanna grassland
Grasses, leaves, roots, bark and fruit
15-30 years
Endangered
General Information • An elephant’s trunk is an amazing appendage. It contains over 40,000 muscles and tendons, has two finger-like projections on the
end for grasping small items, and can hold 5 gallons of water.
• Both male and female African elephants have tusks (modified incisor teeth).
Tusks are used for protection, digging for water, scraping bark off trees, and
males use them when fighting for dominance.
• Elephants live in a matriarchal (related female) society with herds
consisting of family groups of 2-40 individuals. Males are excluded from
the herd around maturity (10-12 years) and live alone or in bachelor herds.
Elephants are extremely social and calves learn most of their essential life
skills from the herd.
• Elephants usually walk 3-5 mph but can travel at speeds up to 25 mph by
quickening their stride.
• Male elephants can measure 12-13 ft. in height and weigh up to 16,000 lbs.
Females can measure 9 ft. in height and weigh up to 10,000 lbs.
Alaskan Brown Bear
Scientific Name
Habitat
Distribution
Ursus arctos
Alaska, except on a few of the smaller islands
Desert thickets, usually near water
Berries, grasses, fish, squirrels, and roots. In some parts of Alaska,
moose and caribou.
20-30 years
Not endangered
Diet
Longevity
Conservation Status
General Information • The term “brown bear” is commonly used to refer to bears
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found in coastal areas where salmon is the primary food source. Brown bears found inland and in northern habitats are often
called “grizzlies.”
Alaska contains over 98% of the United States brown bear population
Brown bears have a particularly good sense of smell. Under the right
conditions they can detect odors more than a mile away.
• Bears are solitary except during breeding season and when they congregate
at streams to catch salmon heading up river to spawn.
• In the winter when food is unavailable or scarce, most Alaskan brown bears
enter dens and hibernate through the winter. While in this state, their body
temperatures, heart rate, and other metabolic rates are reduced. Their need
for food and water is eliminated. In northern areas with long hard winters,
bears may spend from 5 to 7 ½ months in dens.
The Indianapolis Zoo Animal Diversity Program
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