The Asian elephant ( Elephas maximus ), also known as the Asiatic elephant, is the only living Elephas species. It is the largest living land animal in Asia and the second largest living elephantid in the world. It is characterised by its long trunk with a single finger-like processing large tusks in males laterally folded large ears and wrinkled grey skin that is partly depigmented on the trunk, ears or neck. Adult males average 4 t in weight and females 2.7 t . It has a large and well developed neocortex of the brain, is highly intelligent and self-aware being able to display behaviours associated with grief, learning and greeting. It is herbivorous, eating about 150 kg of vegetation per day. Cows and calves form groups, while males remain solitary or form " bachelor groups " with other males. During the breeding season, males temporarily join female groups to mate. Wild Asian elephants live to be about 60 years old. While female captive elephants are recorded to have lived beyond 60 years when kept in semi-natural surroundings, Asian elephants die at a much younger age in captivity captive populations are declining due to a low birth and high death rate.
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