The Endangered Indian Elephants π
Or... Elephas Maximus indicus
Behavioral Adaptations
One behavioral adaptation that helps elephants survive is their herd. Elephants are very social animals. They stay in herds to protect each other. And most elephants in a herd are related. Elephants are very smart and get sad easily, and can hold a grudge. So, just like humans, they wouldn't want to be alone.
A second behavioral adaptation is that elephants have their own way of mating.
In the wild, male and female elephants live separately. Females live in groups together and help each other raise their young. When a male reaches a level of maturity at approximately age 14, he leaves the females and lives either alone or with other groups of males. Females and males come back together for mating.
When a female elephant goes into oestrus, she is ready to mate. Female elephants can go into oestrus four times a year once they reach maturity at about the age of 12, unless they are pregnant or nursing a calf. When a female elephant is in oestrus, she releases pheromones that attract male elephants to her. She also sounds loud mating calls to call to the males and let them know that she is ready to mate. The mature male elephants respond to the females' calls and the scent of her pheromones to try to mate with her.
These adaptations will have a positive effect. If an elephant is alone in a new habitat that wouldn't be good for them. If they were in a herd they would protect each other, and be and feel much safer.
Physical Adaptations
A very important physical feature are the elephant's tusks. These long, curled teeth are both beneficial as well as dangerous to the elephants. The ivory trade makes the elephant a target for poachers looking sell their tusks. The elephants' uses for these long tusks include the stripping of bark from trees, and digging in the dirt and as a resting place for their trunks. Tusks are also used as weapons to protect from predators or to fight with other elephants.
Another is their long flexible trunks. An elephant's trunk is thought to have over 40,000 muscles. This long, snaking nose makes these huge animals capable of some very intricate tasks. It is used to pull branches down from trees for the elephant to eat as well as a suction device for gallons of water which is then squirted into the animal's mouth. They also use it to bathe themselves by spraying themselves. It also finds a use as a powerful weapon against predators or a way to soothe a scared infant elephant with a gentle stroke.
These adaptations have a positive effect for a new habitat, especially the trunk. Their tusk and trunks could be used as weapons against new predators. And the tusks have many other important uses.