African elephants have a grey folded and thick skin that is covered with sparse bristled dark-brown to black hair. Short tactile hair grows on the trunk, which is a prehensile elongation of its upper lip and nose. This highly sensitive organ is thought to be manipulated by about 4060,000 muscles. Because of this muscular structure, the trunk is so strong that elephants can use it for lifting about 3% of their own body weight. They use it for smelling, touching, feeding, drinking, dusting, producing sounds, loading, defending and attacking. Their large ears help to reduce body heat; flapping them creates air currents and exposes the ears’ inner sides where large blood vessels increase heat loss during hot weather.

• Measures 6.5″L x 3.7″H.
• Ages 3+ | 1:18 Scale
• SKU# 88025