Elephants are large mammals of the family
Elephantidae and the order
Proboscidea. Two species are traditionally recognised, the
African elephant (
Loxodonta africana) and the
Asian elephant (
Elephas maximus), although some evidence suggests that
African bush elephants and
African forest elephants are separate species (
L. africana and
L. cyclotis respectively). Elephants are scattered throughout
sub-Saharan Africa,
South Asia, and
Southeast Asia. Elephantidae is the only surviving family of the order Proboscidea; other, now extinct, members of the order include
deinotheres,
gomphotheres,
mammoths, and
mastodons. Male African elephants are the largest
extant terrestrial animals and can reach a height of and weigh . All elephants have several distinctive features the most notable of which is a long trunk or
proboscis, used for many purposes, particularly breathing, lifting water and grasping objects. Their
incisors grow into tusks, which can serve as weapons and as tools for moving objects and digging. Elephants' large ear flaps help to control their body temperature. Their
pillar-like legs can carry their great weight. African elephants have larger ears and concave backs while Asian elephants have smaller ears and convex or level backs.
