2006-09-23 13:25:22 · 9 answers · asked by robynd123 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
The proboscis, or trunk, is a fusion of the nose and upper lip, elongated and specialized to become the elephant's most important and versatile appendage. African elephants are equipped with two fingerlike projections at the tip of their trunk, while Asians have only one. According to biologists, the elephant's trunk is said to have over forty thousand individual muscles in it[citation needed], making it sensitive enough to pick up a single blade of grass, yet strong enough to rip the branches off a tree.
Most herbivores (plant eaters, like the elephant) are adapted with teeth for cutting and tearing off plant materials. However, except for the very young or infirm, elephants always use their trunks to tear up their food and then place it in their mouth. They will graze on grass or reach up into trees to grasp leaves, fruit, or entire branches. If the desired food item is too high up, the elephant will wrap its trunk around the tree or branch and shake its food loose or sometimes simply knock the tree down altogether. The trunk is also used for drinking. Elephants suck water up into the trunk (up to fifteen quarts [14.2 liters] at a time) and then blow it into their mouth. Elephants also inhale water to spray on their body during bathing. On top of this watery coating, the animal will then spray dirt and mud, which act as a protective sunscreen.
2006-09-23 13:30:13 · answer #1 · answered by foundation 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are several herbivores with elongated mobile snouts, so it must be advantageous for herbivores to have them. At some time, it's likely that female proto-pachyderms started preferring male proto-pachyderms that had a bigger mobile snout -- and that went on for a while, and the proto-pachyderms with the most useful longer snouts were the ones that had the most children. A few million years later, ... you get the picture.
2006-09-23 20:33:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think their trunks are for reaching leaves high in the trees they can eat.
2006-09-24 00:09:30 · answer #3 · answered by Professor Armitage 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Anne
2006-09-23 20:28:20 · answer #4 · answered by brock 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They use it as an arm
Aardvarks have'em too
2006-09-23 20:36:02 · answer #5 · answered by spyblitz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't like to skinny dip?
2006-09-23 22:50:47 · answer #6 · answered by Dastardly 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cause they got long legs
2006-09-23 20:53:17 · answer #7 · answered by Solomon Dump 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because they left their suitcases at home
2006-09-23 20:27:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anne S 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
so they can travel??
2006-09-23 20:33:20 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋