What is the largest land animal?

African elephant is the largest land animal. Topping 13 feet (4 m) at the shoulder, African elephants are just a bit bigger than their Asian cousins. You can tell the two species apart by their ears: Africa elephant ears are shaped like their home continent.

An African elephant’s large ears also serve many purposes. The ears’ large surface area helps radiate excess heat under the harsh African sun. The ears are also often used to communicate visually. Flapping their ears can signify either aggression or joy. And finally, elephants’ ears, used in conjunction with the soles of their feet and their trunk, aid in the ability to hear sounds over long distances. On average, an elephant can hear another elephant’s call at 4 km (2.5 mi.) away. Under ideal conditions, their range of hearing can be increased to 10 km (6.2 mi.).

 

Picture Credit : Google