Indian Elephant vs African Elephant 14 comparisons

Akash
6 Min Read

Indian elephant vs African elephant are the two largest living elephant species.

These two species of elephant belong to the same Elephantidae family.

Now we are comparing them with each other with different things.

Indian Elephant vs African Elephant

However, there are some differences between them:

African Elephant vs Indian Elephant Size:

African Elephant vs Indian elephant size
African Elephant vs Indian elephant size

African elephants are larger than Indian elephants, with male African elephants growing up to 4 meters tall and weighing around 6,000 kg, while other side male Indian elephants grow up to 3.3 meters tall and weigh around 4,000 kg.

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African Elephant vs Indian Elephant Lifespan:

African elephants have a lifespan of 60-70 years, while Indian elephants can live for 48 years.

African Elephant vs Indian elephant lifespan
African Elephant vs Indian elephant lifespan

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Indian Elephant vs African Elephant Ears:

We already mentioned that African elephants are larger than Indian elephants, that’s why African elephants have larger ears compared to Indian elephants. On the other side Indian elephants have rounded, smaller and curved ears.

Indian Elephant vs African Elephant Weight:

Indian Elephants: Indian elephants can weigh between 2,000 and 5,000 kg (4,400 and 11,000 lb).

African Elephants: African elephants can weigh between 2,160–3,232 kg (4,762–7,125 lb). The largest recorded African Elephant weighed 10,400 kg (22,900 lb).

African Elephant vs Indian elephant weight
African Elephant vs Indian elephant weight

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African Elephant vs Indian Elephant Appearance:

African elephants have slightly larger ears, while Indian elephants have smaller and rounded ears. African elephants also have two finger-like extensions on the tips of their trunks, while Indian elephants have only one tip.

African Elephant vs Indian Elephant Habitat:

African elephants are found in Africa and also found in savannas, forests, and deserts, while Indian elephants are native to Asia and are found in forests, grasslands, and swamps.

African Elephant vs Indian elephant habitat
African Elephant vs Indian elephant habitat

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Indian Elephant vs African Elephant Behavior:

Now we are talking about behavior. African elephants are more social and gregarious than Indian elephant, living in large herds led by a matriarch, while Indian elephants are less social than African elephants, living in smaller groups or individuals. 

African Elephant vs Indian Elephant Conservation:

African elephants are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), while Indian elephants are listed as endangered.

African elephants face threats from habitat loss and poaching, while Indian elephants face threats from habitat loss, poaching, and conflict with humans, road crossing.

African Elephant vs Indian elephant conservation
African Elephant vs Indian elephant conservation

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Indian Elephant vs African Elephant Swiming Ability:

African elephants are very good and skilled swimmers, while Indian elephants are not as strong swimmers compared to African elephants.

Indian Elephant vs African Elephant Tusks:

African elephants have larger and more prominent tusks than Indian elephants, while Indian elephants have slightly smaller tusks or at all than African elephants.

African Elephant vs Indian elephant tusks
African Elephant vs Indian elephant tusks

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Indian Elephant vs African Elephant Skin:

African elephants have more wrinkled skin, while Indian elephants have smoother skin with more patches, we clearly see in the picture.

African Elephant vs Indian Elephant Diet:

African elephants are more herbivorous and feed on a variety of vegetation, including grasses, bushes, and trees, while Indian elephants are more selective in their diet and feed mostly on leaves, fruits, stems, and bark.

African Elephant vs Indian elephant food
African Elephant vs Indian elephant food

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African Elephant vs Indian Elephant Migration:

African elephants always migrate long distances in search of water and food, while Indian elephants are more stable.

They don’t migrate too much like African Elephants.

Indian Elephant vs African Elephant Intelligence:

Both Indian and African elephants are highly intelligent and have different social structures, but African elephants are considered to be more intelligent.

They solved greater problems with their abilities and they used tools in a very good way. 

Conclution:

Overall, Indian and African elephants have many similarities, but they also have distinct differences that reflect their adaptations to their respective environments and lifestyles.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):

Are Indian elephants bigger than African?

No, Indian elephants and African elephants are of a similar size. Indian elephants can grow slightly larger, with the largest recorded Indian elephant measuring around 10.7 feet at the shoulder, while the largest African elephant measured around 11 feet at the shoulder.

Can African elephants mate with Indian elephants?

No, African elephants and Indian elephants are different species and cannot mate with each other.

Do elephants cry when another elephant dies?

Yes, elephants cry when another elephant dies, even they trying to help them with tusks.

African Elephant vs Indian Elephant Size

African elephants are larger than Indian elephants, with male African elephants growing up to 4 meters tall and weighing around 6,000 kg, while other side male Indian elephants grow up to 3.3 meters tall and weigh around 4,000 kg.

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