Heaviest land animal

What to remember

The largest African bush elephant on record stood 3.96 m (13.0 ft) at the shoulder, and its mass was estimated at 10.4 t. That estimate sets the record for the heaviest land animal. A typical bush elephant weighs closer to 6 tonnes, and fully grown bulls average 3.04 to 3.36 m at the shoulder.

The species lives across sub-Saharan Africa in a wide range of settings: forests, grasslands, woodlands, wetlands and even farmland. It is the largest living land animal by bulk, with only the giraffe standing taller.

Several features help it cope with heat. Large ears help shed body heat, and the cracks in its grey skin hold water, which helps regulate its temperature. The trunk ends in two finger-like processes. An adult eats about 150 kg of vegetation a day.