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Difference Between Asian and African Elephants

By : Neha Dhyani

Updated : Apr 1, 2022, 7:03

Elephants are the largest mammals living on the earth's surface. Known for their huge bodies, ears, and trunks, elephants are also one of the most well-known living beings.

However, when talking of elephants, there are two most distinctive types of elephants inhabiting the earth now - the Asian elephants and the African elephants.

Now, although both these types of elephants belong to the general elephant species, there are numerous characteristics associated with each type that make the African and Asian elephants distinctively different from each other.

In this article, a detailed overview of the Difference Between Asian and African Elephants will be provided.

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Major Differences Between Asian And African Elephants

As said earlier, there are numerous differences that separate the Asian variant of elephants from their African brethren. Some of the major Difference Between Asian and African Elephants have been enumerated below -

Sl. No.TypeAsian ElephantsAfrican Elephants
1HeadThey have an indented twin dome-shaped head. The indentation runs through the center of the head.They have dome-shaped heads that are fuller and round without any indentation.
2EarsThey have circular ears, which are comparatively smaller than African elephants.The African elephants have fan-shaped large ears. According to some, their ears symbolize the map of Africa.
3HeightThe height of an average Asian elephant is about 3.5 meters, which is centimeters shorter than its African counterparts.The average height of African elephants is above 4 meters, which is notches above their Asian counterparts.
4WeightThe average weight of Asian elephants varies between 3,000 and 6,000 kg.The average weight of African elephants varies between 4,000 and 8,000 kg.
5TusksTusks are seen only on the male variant. The females, on the other hand, have tushes, a type of rudimentary tusks.Both the male and well as female variants of African elephants have tusks.
6LipsThe lower lips of Asian elephants are tapered and longer.They have shorter and more rounder lower lips.
7TeethThe Asian elephants enjoy compressed diamond-shaped tooth profileThey have a "loxodont" (sloping) tooth profile. This essentially provides their scientific name - Africana Loxodonta.
8AreasAsian elephants are found mainly across the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia, including Laos and Myanmar.They are present across the Central and West African rainforests though their presence has also been noted through the African savannas and deserts.
9SkinTheir skin is usually pretty smooth.They have rough and wrinkled skin.
10Life ExpectancyTheir average life expectancy is 48 years.Their average life expectancy is 70 years.

The above were the 10 commonest Difference Between Asian and African Elephants. Although the differences are stark, their eating habits and movement habits (in the herd) are the same.

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FAQs on the Difference Between Asian and African Elephants

Q.1. What is the Difference Between Asian and African Elephants with regard to life expectancy?

The Difference Between Asian and African Elephants with regard to life expectancy is that Asian elephants can live on an average up to 48 years whereas the average life expectancy of African elephants is 70 years.

Q.2. What is the difference between Asian and African elephants with regard to habitat?

The Difference Between Asian and African Elephants with regard to habitat is that Asian elephants can be widely found in India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand, and Laos among other southeast Asian countries whereas African elephants can be found across the Central and West African rainforests and the African savannas and deserts.

Q.3. What is the Difference Between Asian and African Elephants depending on their average weight?

The Main Difference Between Asian and African Elephants is that the average weight of the former is between 3,000 and 6,000 kg whereas the average weight of the latter is between 4,000 and 8,000 kg.

Q.4. Is there a Difference Between Asian and African Elephants with regard to eating habits?

As far as eating habit is concerned, there is no Difference Between Asian and African Elephants.