Elephant Foot Anatomy

The animal has only four of these teeth at any one time. Besides their important mechanical properties foot cushions in elephants seem to be very sensitive structures.

The Cyclopaedia Of Anatomy And Physiology Anatomy

Elephant anatomy physical characteristics elephants are the largest land mammal still extant and the largest of them african bull elephants stand about 13ft tall and weigh something in the region of 15000 lbs.

Elephant foot anatomy. Home information elephant anatomy. All of us are familiar with the trunk of an elephant. Cross section through an elephant foot behind the tips of their toes there is a relatively soft cushion.

Its feet play a role in creating holes in which water can collect for digging up roots from the ground and for navigating difficult terrain. An elephant will use its tusks to provoke aggression or to lift a baby elephant out of a mud wallow. Tactile communication usually involves the whole body feet tail ears trunk and tusks and is mostly to do with touch.

The elephant s foot size is used to judge the overall size of a particular animal its age and the number of elephants in a particular group. The distal phalanges of the elephant do not directly touch the ground and are attached to the respective nailhoof. A comprehensive evaluation of foot health in elephants should therefore include baseline foot radiographs to establish the normal anatomy for that individual and annual assessment thereafter using radiographic protocols with standard views optimal for the detection of pathological lesions mumby et al 2013.

Elephants have a unique body design that makes it hard to confuse them with any other animal in the world. Molars grinding teeth are at least 30 cm 1 ft long and weigh about 4 kg 88 lbs. The six toes of each foot of the elephant are enclosed in a flexible sheath of skin.

Similar to the dogs paw the elephants phalanges are oriented in a downward direction. An elephant usually grows six sets of these molars in a life time. The elephant will lift its trunk to smell the air or root around the floor usually searching for urine spots and urine trails.

The micromorphology of elephant feet cushions resembles that of digital cushions in cattle or of the foot pads in humans but not that of digital cushions in horses. This is why it not sooo bad if an elephant stands on your foot as long as it doesnt end up under one of the elephants toe nailsthe sole of an elephants foot has an irregular profile which gives it traction and stops it from slipping on smooth surfaces such as snow and ice. Asian elephants are smaller with cows generally averaging 7 9 ft in height and 6600 lbs in weight.

New molars form in the back of the mouth and push the old ones forward and out completely. They are very large animals with an anatomy that is developed so that they have a very good chance of survival in their natural habitat.

Comparison Of Animal Feet Historical Art Stock Image