elephant, n.Trivia

Elephants can use their penis as a fifth leg to support their weight

Elephants are the only mammal that can’t jump.

Elephants can swim for up to six hours and 25 miles (48km).

An elephant's trunk has 150,000 muscle units.(according to National Geographic)

Elephants communicate in sound waves below the frequency that humans can hear

An elephant trunk can hold and store four liters of water.

Elephants grind down their 6 pound molars and grow new ones about 6 times over their lifetime

Elephants can swim 20 miles per day

Elephants suck on their trunks for comfort.

In Ancient Asia, death by elephant was a popular form of execution. Elephants were trained to torture their victims to death.

Elephants can recognize different human languages and remember the ones belonging to people with whom they've had confrontations.

Elephants have with ‘Death Rituals’, whereby the herd will gather around the dead, cover the body and mourn the death; even revisitting the bones of the dead, sometimes years after the death.

Male elephants have a prehensile penis which they can use to swat flies and scratch their stomach. They can also use it as a fifth leg to support their weight.

When a baby elephant is born, other moms in the family group will trumpet to celebrate and announce the new baby's arrival.

Elephants are not very toothy --- African elephants only have 4 teeth

Elephants are a keystone species. They create pathways through impenetrable underbrush, shape entire ecosystems by creating pools in dried river beds, and spread seeds as they travel.

An elephant's trunk can hold over 5 liters of water

An elephant can actually die of a broken heart if their mate dies. They may refuse to eat or lay down, shedding tears until they starve to death.

elephants are scared of bees even though bees can't penetrate their hide with their stingers.

Elephants spend nearly 80% of their day eating.