2007-11-24 21:04:20 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
You might think that the elephant's nearest relative would be another big lumbering animal of the African or Indian bush, but in fact its' nearest and dearest' is a tiny creature called a rocky hyrax. Rock hyraxes live in rocky or wooded regions in parts of Asia and Africa. They couldn't look less like an elephant, either, for they are very similar to hamsters in appearance. The reason why rock hyraxes and elephants are related is that both have hoof-like nails on the toes of their front feet.
2007-11-24 21:26:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Elephants' closest known relatives are DUGONGS and MANATEES, HYRAXES, and AARDVARKS.
Quite interesting to know those animals are closest relatives of elephants but quite surprising to think of relatively small hyraxes to be a relative as well as with the aardvarks.
2007-11-24 22:03:19 · answer #2 · answered by ♥ lani s 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The closest relative that is a land animal is the rock hyrax, which is small creature that looks kind of like a pika. However, manatees, dugongs, and sea cows are even more closely related.
2007-11-25 08:31:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes there is this pre historic creature looks similar to elephant but they are small in size....you might have seen it in Ice age movie....
They are diferent breeds of elephants.......Pre-Historic Mammoth (Back in B.C), African elephant, Indian Elephant and White elephant(in thailand)
2007-11-24 21:10:46 · answer #4 · answered by ROHIT E 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The family Elephantidae is the root from which the mammoth, Asian elephant, and African elephant came from. Interestingly, the Asian elephant is more closely related to the extinct mammoth than to the African elephant.
2007-11-24 21:12:54 · answer #5 · answered by Tabitha S 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There are no extremely close relatives to elephants - but there are three different species.
2007-11-24 21:08:49 · answer #6 · answered by Tomiko Takahashi 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its the Heffalump ...
Humans share most of their DNA with elephants - but the actual relative is the rock hyrax...
2007-11-24 21:08:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The elephant next to it
2007-11-24 21:09:03 · answer #8 · answered by Charlene 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's the rock hyrax...a small, furry creature...I was at the Natural History Museum yesterday and this fact amazed me!
2007-11-28 10:13:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Snuffalufugus
2007-11-24 21:07:33 · answer #10 · answered by deirdrezz 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋