11.4. Loxodonta africana: African Elephant http://www.ck12.org
Features in the African Bush Elephant’s body are also adapted to suit the needs of the survival of this species in
this habitat. This species of elephant possesses 2 large and flappy ears, which enable excess heat to radiate out of
the elephant’s body, cooling its internal body temperature in the hot savannah habitat. In addition, the African Bush
Elephant has thick strong skin that prevents parasites and other small bugs of the savannah habitat from infecting
it with deadly diseases. Along with its skin, the African Bush Elephant has a very long and powerful trunk made
purely out of muscle that allows this organism to obtain and store water for consumption at a later time. Two large
ivory tusks at opposite ends of the elephant’s jaw help the elephant move powerfully through objects obstructing
its path in the savannah, and in some cases, are utilized as a defense mechanism against predators, such as lions or
cheetahs.
Finally, the African Bush Elephant’s internal body system has adapted functionally to the vegetarian diet of the
organism. Four large molars in the elephant’s jaw enable it to chew and thoroughly digest its food before it is sent
to the digestive organs of the elephant for further digestion. The digestive system of the African Bush Elephant,
which is specifically modified for a vegetative diet via specialized digestive juices and enzymes, eventually absorbs
the nutrients of the food the elephant consumes, and disposes the waste of the food as nutrient rich waste. This
soon fertilizes the savannah land and allows for more vegetative growth, allowing the food cycle of the African Bush
Elephant to continue for generations to come.
References
- Loxodonta africana, Encyclopedia of Life, http://eol.org/pages/289808/overview.
- http://a-z-animals.com/animals/african-bush-elephant/
- http://animals.about.com/od/habitat-facts/u/habitat-facts.htm#s7
- http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna_animal_page.htm
- http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/s/0mproboscidae/elephantidae/loxodonta/loxodonta_africana/21LoxAfrHaemBio
.htm - http://www.broadinstitute.org/science/projects/mammals-models/elephant/elephant-genome-project
- http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1000564
Attribution
Author
- various students
Supervising Faculty
- Douglas Wilkin
Affiliation
- CK-12 Writing Program