Book 33, Question 15
Which mammal is the heavyweight of the land?
The African elephant is the largest land mammal, weighing about six tons, which is as much as three or four cars.
Its heavy body is held up by thick legs. Its ears are huge and help it cool off. A baby elephant weighs as much as a grown-up person when it’s born. Elephants eat leaves, grass, and bark all day long to get enough food.
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Quick answers
Which mammal is the heavyweight of the land?
The African bush elephant is the largest land mammal in the world and the largest of the three elephant species.
Source: The Nature Conservancy
More fun facts
- The largest living land mammals, elephants are intelligent, social and vital to their ecosystems.
- The largest elephant on record was an adult male African savanna elephant.
- African forest elephants are browser-frugivores and eat leaves, fruits, seeds, branches, and bark.
- African elephants are grazer-browsers and eat grasses, including sedges, flowering plants, leaves, shrubs, and small- to medium-size trees.
- The small country of Botswana hosts the largest elephant population remaining on the African continent.
Sources: Smithsonian, San Diego Zoo
Questions kids ask
How long can a wild African elephant live?
A wild African elephant born today could live for more than 60 years if she has enough safe, healthy habitat.
Source: The Nature Conservancy