Elephants are the largest living land animals. Currently there are three species recognized (See figure above): the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), the African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis)
Three species of elephants, the Asian elephant (A) (Elephas maximus), the African bush elephant (B) (Loxodonta africana) and the African forest elephant (C) (Loxodonta cyclotis) A: By: Pixnio; Credits; B: Public domain; C: By: Thomas Breuer; Credits CC BY 2.5
More detailed information can be found here.
The elephant has the largest brain of all land animals, ranging from 4.5 - 5 kg. The brains of the elephant species are very similar (see Below)
The brain of the Asian elephant
An outer view of the brain of the asian elephant (Elephas maximus). Dorsal (A) and Ventral (B) view of the brain. The cranial nerves exitting the ventral brain (D). The ventricular system is depicted in C and E. In F a mid-sagittal view after cutting the brain across the middle.; F: African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana)
A-E: Shoshani et al., 2006. Credits; Permission pending F: Bob Jacobs et al., 2022. Credits; CC by 4.0
The brain of the African elephant
An outer view of the brain of the African elephant (Loxodonta africana). Side (A) and Ventral (B) view of the brain. In C a mid-sagittal section
Tonny Mulder - University of Amsterdam
