長鼻目 Proboscidea

長鼻目（Proboscidea）,源自希臘文 πρό (pró,「在前面」) 和希臘文 βόσκω (bóskō,「餵食」),是指這些動物的長鼻（軀幹）.

Proboscidea, from Greek πρό (pró, “in front”) and Greek βόσκω (bóskō, “to feed”), in reference to the proboscis (trunk) of these animals.

種的俗名 Common names of members

大象

Elephants.

分佈 Distribution

撒哈拉沙漠以南的非洲（非洲象）；印度、尼泊爾和東南亞（亞洲象）.

Africa south of the Sahara (African elephants); India, Nepal, and Southeast Asia (Asian elephants).

體型 Size

尺寸範圍：肩高 2-4 公尺；重量 2.2-7.7 公噸尺寸範圍：肩高 2-4 公尺；重量 2.2-7.7 公噸

Size range:2–4 m in height at shoulder; 2.2–7.7 tons in weight.

形態描述 Morphology

牠們擁有長而有力的長鼻,巨大的耳朵,粗壯的腿和堅韌的皮膚.牠們的上切牙從顱骨中長出,形成兩根巨大的獠牙.

They have a long, muscular proboscis or trunk, large ear flaps, massive legs, and tough skin. They have upper incisor teeth that emerge from the skull, forming two large tusks.

生態與棲息地 Ecology & Habitat

闊葉樹草原、東非旱生疏林、熱帶雨林、乾燥地區和灌叢.

Mopane and miombo woodlands, tropical rainforests, dry areas, and scrublands.

食性 Diet

牠們是草食性動物,以草、草本植物、灌木、闊葉樹、棕櫚和藤蔓為食.

They are herbivorous, feeding on grasses, herbs (forbs), shrubs, broadleaved trees, palms, and vines.

繁殖 Reproduction

牠們是一雄多雌繁殖.每個家庭單位有 3-25 名成年雌性成員及其後代,而雄性則獨居.妊娠期約為 2 年,每隻雌性的幼鳥數量為 1 或 2 隻.生育間隔為 4 至 5 年.

They are polygynous. Each family unit has 3-25 members of adult females and their offspring while males are solitary. The gestation period is about 2 years, with the number of young per female being 1 or 2. Interbirth intervals takes 4 to 5 years.