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African elephant fact # 2 - Loxodonta africana pharaoensis
The North African elephant that we know from the history of military commander Hannibal is believed to be either a subspecies to the African Forest Elephant, or a now-extinct fourth species of African elephant. It is usually referred to a Loxodonta africana pharaoensis and disappeared roughly 2000 years ago.

African elephant fact # 3 - Loxodonta pumilio
Cryptologists sometimes recognize a third contemporary species of African elephant – the Loxodonta pumilio. These elephants are found in the Congo basin and are commonly referred to as Pygmy Elephants due to their diminutive size. Established science does however consider these elephants a variant of the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis). The small size and early maturity is believed to be caused by the specific environmental conditions in the Congo basin. The term “Pygmy Elephants” can cause some confusion, since the name is used for a type of small Asian Elephants as well. The Asian Pygmy elephant is more correctly referred to as the Borneo elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis) and is found in the Sabah state in Malaysia.

African elephant facts # 4 - Loxodonta africana
The African Bush Elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the larger one of the two contemporary African elephant species. It will usually reach a height of 3.0-3.5 meters (9.8 – 11.4 feet) and a length of 6 - 7.3 meters (20 - 24 feet). The National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. exhibits a 4 meter (13.1 feet) high African Bush Elephant that was found in Angola in 1955. The African bush elephant is the largest land animal in the world and a weight in the 7,000 to 10,000 kg (approximately 15000 to 22000 lb) range is not uncommon. It can run at a pace of 40 km/h (25 mph) when necessary, but usually travels at a more comfortable speed of 6 km/h (3.7 mph).

African elephant facts # 5 - Loxodonta cyclotis
There are several notable differences between the African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis). The African Forest Elephant is smaller than the African bush elephant. This is believed to be an adaptation to the densely grown jungle environments in which it can be found. A male African forest elephant rarely grow higher than 2.5 meters (8 feet).  Another adaptation to the forest environment is the straight tusks, which probably prevents the elephant from becoming entangled in forest herbs and trees. Another interesting African elephant fact regarding the African Forest Elephant is that its tusks have since long been much sought after in the ivory trade. The tusks are usually harder than those found on the African bush elephant, and it also has a special pinkish shade. Other known anatomical differences between the two species can be seen on the mandible and on the ears. The African forest elephant has a much longer and narrower mandible than the African Bush Elephant. (The mandible is the facial bone that forms the lower jaw and anchors the teeth.) The ears of the African forest elephant are rounded, while the African bush elephant display more pointy ears.

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african elephant facts