elephants

Elephants are large herbivorous mammals that are distinguished by trunk and their long curved tusks.
Elephants in Panthea all resemble African elephants from real life. Elephants vary in size with the smallest being pygmy elephants that live in some isolated southern islands, which stand at around 5.5 feet (1.6 meters) and the largest being dire elephants, which stand at heights of up to 40 feet (12 meters), and straight tusked elephant, which stand at 17 feet (5 meters) tall, although the average elephants are around 10.5 feet tall (3.2 meters).

Evolution

Elephants are closely related to Mammoths, and the two shared a common ancestor. This ancestor was a massive elephant which lived during the age of titans and went extinct 120,000 years ago.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Elephants are very large animals. Their hefty bodies rest on 4 stocky legs and they have concave backs. Elephants have very unique faces, with large ears and two massive tusks which commonly reach near the ground and curve forwards and inwards, and between their tusks is a long trunk which functions as a fifth limb.

Additional Information

Domestication

Elephants have been tamed by many cultures throughout history, being commonly used to haul heavy loads and as status symbols for the wealthy, and also being used in many armies in the past and even present. Military elephants in ancient times were used to cause terror in the enemies, as they could trample enemy infantry formations and scare away cavalry. Elephants have been the decisive factor in many battles in the past.
Modern day war elephants are mostly used by the technologically primitive city states and tribes of Tamal. These elephants are armoured with thick plates of Durnium, tusk spikes, and have cannons and archers stationed on platforms on their backs. These tribes and city states only use Dire elephants and great-tusked elephants for war. These elephants have been proven to be very useful even in the modern day, with their armour being able to protect them very well against artillery fire and all types of bullets, and they have the added benefit of being more maneuverable that vehicles in their jungle terrain.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Elephants can be found in much of the southern hemisphere of the midlands, living in hot jungles, grasslands and sometimes deserts. Elephants along with Mammoths are one of the most widespread types of animals in the world. There are also elephants in the outlands that live in similar environments.

Average Intelligence

Elephants are very intelligent animals, having great memories and being capable of recognizing themselves in a mirror.

Origin/Ancestry

Elephants are closely related to Mammoths, and the two shared a common ancestor 40,000 years ago. This ancestor was a massive elephant which lived during the age of titans and went extinct 10,000 years ago.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Elephants have grey skin.