The trunk of the elephants

One of the most outstanding parts of the elephant's body is its trunk.

This has been studied in depth by many biologists and connoisseurs of the animal world without reaching a clear conclusion as to how or why this animal has been evolving and taking this part of its anatomy as important as it is today. 

If you want to know everything that has been said about the elephant's trunk, and you want to have the best information, just read this article that you will surely like.

General characteristics of the elephant's trunk

One of the peculiarities that this organ has is that it has more than 40 thousand muscles, something that can be quite impressive since if we compare, for example, with the rest of the body, this animal has about 400 muscles in charge of moving its entire body, without, However, in such a small space it has an enormous proportion, which also exceeds that of humans, who have around 650 muscles.

Having so many muscles in the trunk helps elephants to use it for many functions, having impressive agility both to move it, to grab objects, among other functions.

The trunk of these animals is an extension of the upper lip, and also of the nose. 

Elephants have a recognizable lower lip, however, the upper lip becomes what would be the lower part of the animal's trunk. Therefore, by also fulfilling the function of a nose, they are going to breathe through their two orifices, although they also find other uses that we are going to explain below.

What do elephants use their trunks for?

One of the main uses of elephant trunks is for breathing. 

This organ is like the nose for us, with the only difference being that these enormous mammals are much longer and more flexible. 

The tube has two holes that are where air and oxygen will enter, as well as expel toxic gases that your body no longer needs.

The trunk also helps them detect possible dangers thanks to the sharpness of their sense of smell, which can smell a predator or a threat from several kilometers away. 

In the same way, its sense of smell will help it find better food both on the ground and in bushes or trees, finding the most tender branches or fallen fruits. 

Also, as if that were not enough, they detect in the environment and by the odors that the female gives off, if she is receptive to mating, something that helps them to reproduce.

The tube as an exploratory organ

In African elephants, the trunk is somewhat different from that of Asian elephants. 

Those that live in the African Savannah have a small protuberance at the end of it and that is also movable, so they can use this as a pincer with which to grab some objects, although they usually use their trunk to do this.

With it, they will also explore their environment and use it for other very varied functions. 

One of the clear examples is the use of this organ as if it were an arm or a hand since with it, he will grab food or other objects, both take them to his mouth, in the first case and also use them in his favor Even breakthrough.

They will explore their entire environment thanks to this part of their body.

One of the most common images is also that of the elephant bathing with the help of its trunk. These animals are capable of absorbing water through their trunk and then throwing it on themselves to soak themselves and eliminate both the dirt on their body and the heat.

Also, to avoid high temperatures, they are capable of taking large amounts of sand and earth to throw it on top, thus avoiding insect pests or even creating a protective barrier against the Sun.

Through the trunk, they will also emit sounds with which they will communicate with others of the same species, both to indicate some danger and to defend their territory as well as their young.