This article, Asian vs African elephants: What’s the difference?, has been written for native English speakers and learners of English as a second or foreign language. It helps children practise reading and comprehension, learn fun vocabulary, and discover how two types of elephants are not as similar as you might think. Written by Mark Pulley, a teacher and writer who creates fun and informative news articles for English learners.
Aren’t all elephants the same?
At first glance, all elephants might look the same, huge, wrinkly, and in possession of the biggest nose in nature. But did you know there are two main types of elephants, and they’re actually quite different?
Let’s take a closer look at what sets African and Asian elephants apart.
Ears, size, and tusks
One of the easiest ways to tell them apart is by their ears. African elephants have huge ears shaped a bit like the continent of Africa. These big ears help them stay cool in the hot African sun. Asian elephants have smaller, rounder ears because they don’t need as much cooling in the shady forests of Asia.
African elephants are also the biggest of the two. They usually grow both taller and heavier than their Asian cousins. Both male and female African elephants usually have tusks, but over in Asia, only the males that can grow tusks.
Heads, backs, and trunks
If you look at the top of their heads, African elephants have a smooth, rounded shape, while Asian elephants have a twin-domed head with a dip in the middle. It’s like a little dent between two hills!
Their backs are different too. African elephants have a dip in the middle of their backs, while Asian elephants have more of a rounded or humped back.
Even their trunks are slightly different. African elephants have two “fingers” at the end of their trunks to help them grab things. Asian elephants only have one! They’re not really fingers, more like lips, but they are called fingers, weird right!
Where do they live?
African elephants live across many parts of Africa. They prefer the grassy savannas that cover a lot of the centre and south of the country.
Asian elephants are mostly found in India, but Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Laos also still have wild elephants strolling around the countryside.
Sadly, both kinds are in serious danger from habitat loss and poaching. Thankfully, there are many people who are working hard to protect them.
Which is better?
There’s no winner here, both are amazing in their own way. African elephants are the largest land animals on Earth. Asian elephants are known for their intelligence and calm nature. Whether their ears flap big or small, these gentle giants deserve our care and respect.
Article vocabulary list
- Tusks – Long, curved teeth that stick out of an elephant’s mouth
- Continent – One of the big land areas of the world (like Africa or Asia)
- Cooling – Making something less hot
- Twin-domed – Shaped like two small hills
- Poaching – Illegal hunting of animals
- Trunk – The long nose of an elephant used for picking things up
- Wrinkly – Having lots of folds or lines
Comprehension questions
Just click the plus (+) to see the answer
1. How can you tell an African elephant from an Asian one?
A) By their tails
B) By the size and shape of their ears
C) By the colour of their skin
Answer: B) By the size and shape of their ears
2. Which type of elephant is bigger?
A) Asian elephant
B) They’re the same size
C) African elephant
Answer: C) African elephant
3. What’s different about their tusks?
A) Only African elephants have tusks
B) Only male Asian elephants might have tusks
C) All elephants have tusks
Answer: B) Only male Asian elephants might have tusks
4. How many ‘fingers’ does an African elephant have at the end of its trunk?
A) One
B) Two
C) Three
Answer: B) Two
5. WWhere do Asian elephants live?
A) Africa
B) South America
C) India and other parts of Asia
Answer: C) India and other parts of Asia
Mark is a writer and EFL teacher from England with eight years’ experience. He’s passionate about travel, sport (especially football), animals, nature, and history, and enjoys helping children explore the world through language and learning.
