An Abstract on the Dissection of a Female Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus maximus Linnaeus, 1758)

Shoshani, Jeheskel; al, et

doi:10.22237/elephant/1521731729

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 1 publication

(1 reference statement)

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“…The skeletal mounts of Mammuthus would have been taller in life, owing to skin and subcutaneous tissue at the back and below the foot, and cartilage in the joints. The skin of an Elephas maximus cow was found to be 3.2 cm thick along the back (Shoshani et al. , 1982), and Roth (1990) used twice this value for the thickness of the sole of the foot.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 92%

Body size in proboscideans, with notes on elephant metabolism

Christiansen

2004

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society

123

101

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Mass estimates for a number of fossil proboscideans were computed using regression analyses on appendicular bones to body mass, for seven specimens of modern elephants, for which body masses had been recorded prior to death. The marked differences in physical proportions between extant Loxodonta and Elephas , implying substantial differences in body mass at any given shoulder height, were not present in their long bone parameters. Length and least circumferences proved to be the best parameters for prediction of body mass. Some extinct proboscideans, notably certain Mammuthus and Deinotherium , were much larger than extant elephants. Both the basal and the field metabolic rates of extant elephants are lower than predicted for a hypothetical mammal, in accordance with their body size and subsistence on low-quality foods. The feeding quantities often ascribed to extant wild elephants are exaggerated, and would in fact have sufficed to nourish much larger species.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 92%

Body size in proboscideans, with notes on elephant metabolism

Christiansen

2004

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society

123

101

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“…The abstract included with this paper is an updated version of the one in Shoshani et al (1980). We begin our discussion with the pathological findings since they may be of interest to many readers who own elephants or who are in direct contact with elephants regularly.…”

Section: Discussion and Summarymentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Dissection of a Female Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus maxiums Linnaeus, 1758) and Data from Other Elephants

Shoshani

1982

Elephant

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This elephantine project would have been virtually impossible without the tremendous help received from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, various departments within Wayne State University, the numerous individuals involved, and the anonymous donors. The officials and other individuals at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (Irvin and Kenneth Feld, Daniel C. Laughlin, Franz Tisch, Jim "Chico" Williams) were generous, very understanding and accommodating. With regard to the departments within the University, the following deserve special credit: Department of Biological Sciences

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“…Epidermal surfaces of both species of elephant are prominently sculptured and bear regular patterns of 1-2 mm wide tubercles interspersed with intervening crevices or fissures (Plate I). This morphology creates a honeycomb structure in negative casts that reveals a nearly uniform arrangement of pentagonal and hexagonal tubercles (see also Shoshani et al, 1982). Superimposed on these patterns of tubercles and crevices are deeper wrinkles and channels that meander vary from 0.03 to 0.2 mm in width and from 0.1 to 2 mm in depth.…”

Section: Morphologymentioning

confidence: 92%

Surface sculpturing and water retention of elephant skin

LlLLYWHITE

Stein

1987

Journal of Zoology

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With 1 plate in the text)The integument of elephants is highly sculptured with wrinkles and crevices arranged in prominent geometric patterns. These features are shown to adsorb water and to facilitate its movement over the body surface. The retention of water attributable to epidermal morphology was quantified by studying latex casts of integumentary surfaces. Retention of water by casts of integument is 4.5 to 10 times greater than that of flat surfaces and is greater in African elephants than in Asian elephants. Both species lack sebum and sweat glands and require regular wetting of their skin. However, the skin of African elephants is sculptured more deeply and retains significantly more water than does that of Asian elephants adapted to more mesic habitats. We propose that the highly sculptured morphology functions to enhance retention of surface moisture during periodic wallowing, thereby impeding dehydration of the exposed epidermis and mediating evaporative heat losses. These functions could have great physiological significance during periods of drought when intense heat and solar radiation coincide with limited availability of water.

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An Abstract on the Dissection of a Female Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus maximus Linnaeus, 1758)

Cited by 5 publications

References 1 publication

Body size in proboscideans, with notes on elephant metabolism

Body size in proboscideans, with notes on elephant metabolism

On the Dissection of a Female Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus maxiums Linnaeus, 1758) and Data from Other Elephants

Surface sculpturing and water retention of elephant skin

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