Indian elephant

For the species also referred to as Indian elephant, see Asian elephant.

Indian elephant
Tusked male, Bandipur National Park
Female, Nagarhole National Park
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Proboscidea
Family:
Elephantidae
Genus:
Elephas
Species:
Elephas maximus
Trinomial name
Elephas maximus indicus
(Cuvier), 1798

The Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus) is one of three subspecies of the Asian elephant. It comes from mainlandAsia. Since 1986, E. maximus indicus has been listed as endangered by IUCN. The population has declined by at least 50% over the last 60–75 years. The subspecies is also threatened by habitat loss, degradation and herds being split apart into smaller groups.[1] It is recognized as the National animal of India.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Choudhury, A. and others (IUCN SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group) 2008. [1]