Released 2009-10-03

African Elephant, Loxodonta africana

The most famous of the african elephant's distinguishing characteristics are located on its head. The large ears, which differentiate the african elephant most readily from its asian cousin, are filled with veins. The elephant's continual waving about of its ears helps to cool the animal down. The tusks, actually enlarged incisors, can grow to more than ten feet in length and weigh over 200 pounds. They are what get the animal most in trouble with poachers; ivory is still extremely valuable, though its trade is illegal in many countries. And finally, the elephant's amazing trunk: guided by over 40,000 muscles, the trunk serves as food gatherer, water spout, dirt sprayer, ear scratcher, eye wiper, friend greeter, enemy warner, intruder tosser, and snorkel, to name but a few uses. It is truly a fascinating, and to the elephant, critically important, appendage.

This is a limited edition photograph with a total of 500 photos printed across all sizes, as noted