Abstract: Diversity of representatives of the orders Proboscis and Callopods. Characteristic features of the order Proboscidea A message on the topic of proboscis animals

Which performs various functions, including capturing food or water, moving objects, and interacting with other relatives. They also have specialized teeth for chewing vegetation, as well as tusks (second upper incisors) used for clearing tree bark, digging in the soil for food, and fighting.

Classification

Currently, two living genera are distinguished in the order Proboscidea:

• includes two modern species: savannah and forest elephant.
• includes one modern species: the Indian elephant.

Some extinct representatives of the order Proboscidea include:

• Family Meriteriaceae ( Moeritheridae) - animals that were characterized by small height at the withers (about 70 cm) and a weight of approximately 235 kg.
• Deinotherid family ( Deinotheriidae) - the largest representatives of the detachment, whose weight exceeded 10 tons.
• Family Gomphotheraceae ( Gomphotheriidae) - most species had elephant-shaped trunks, but they differed from elephants in the structure of their teeth and the number of tusks (some had 4 tusks).
• Mastodon family ( Mammutidae) - included 3 genera. Some members of the family had a height at the withers of about 3 m.
• Elephant family ( Elephantidae) - includes , elephants and stegodon.

Evolution

The first proboscideans evolved and diversified in Africa during. Phosphatherium escuilliei is the earliest recognized ancestor of proboscis from the late Paleocene (58 million years ago) in Morocco. Its height at the withers was less than a meter. Meritherium ( Moerteryium listen)) is another early proboscis that was about the size of a large pig, and probably did not have a trunk, although it is thought to have a movable upper lip. In Egypt, Algeria, Libya and Senegal, fossil remains of two species were discovered in the late Eocene Moerteryium (M. lyonsi And M. trigodon).

Other proboscidean ancestors include Numidotherium ( Numidotherium), baryterium ( Barytherium) and Dinotherium ( Deinotherium). The remains of these early proboscideans have been discovered in northern Africa along the southern coast of the Tethys Ocean, which existed in. Numidotherium grew about 1.5 meters in height and had a trunk as long as that of a tapir. Many remains of this early proboscis were obtained from middle Eocene deposits in Algeria.

There were two types of bariteria. One species was large, weighing about 3-4 tons and 2.5-3 meters high. The second type was smaller, about the size of Moerteryium. Barytherium lived from the late to early Oligocene. U Deinotherium there was a fully functioning trunk and tusks on the lower jaw. Deinotheres roamed the planet for 20 million years, living in Africa, Europe and Asia, starting in the middle; they survived in Eurasia until the Pliocene and in Africa until almost a million years ago.

Throughout their history, proboscideans have shown a tendency to increase in size. The earliest known members of the order were moderately large, probably weighing around 120 kg; modern views very large (an adult male African elephant can weigh more than 6000 kg). The largest extinct representative of the proboscis order is the steppe mammoth ( Mammuthus trogontherii) - was a huge animal, weighing about 9000 kg, which is 1/3 more than the weight of African elephants. Early proboscideans had neither a trunk nor tusks. These body parts appeared in the process.

Distribution and habitat

African elephants are found in sub-Saharan Africa. Asian elephants are common in India, Nepal and Southeast Asia. Elephants are able to survive in a wide variety of environments due to the huge variety of food sources they have. Although this is one of their main ones, proboscideans are also found in, near swamps, as well as in ecotones, which represent transition zones between.

Description

Modern elephants have a long, muscular trunk that functions almost like a fifth limb. Male Asian elephants and female and male African elephants have a pair of huge canines (tusks), which are growing incisors of the upper jaw.

Their teeth are uniquely adapted to roughage. As was the case with their ancestors, modern elephants have 6 molars. However, in modern elephants, the first three teeth are small and relatively simple. The fourth begins to grow at 4-5 years. It gradually moves forward of the jaw and after eight years is replaced by a fifth tooth. The sixth tooth begins to grow when the elephant reaches about 25 years of age.

The skull of modern elephants is short and high. The skeleton of these mammals is adapted to attach huge muscles that the animal needs for nutrition, self-defense and uprooting trees. The limb bones are strong, and the toes extend and are supported by a pad of dense connective tissue.

A distinctive feature of these animals is their huge ears, with the help of which they regulate body temperature and perfectly capture sounds at long distances.

Elephants live long life(60-70 years old).

Diet

Elephants require a huge amount of food, more than 150 kg per individual per day. They are capable of knocking down large trees to get their leaves and bark. Elephant herds can damage arable land or forests while feeding.

The diet of these animals consists of grass, leaves, tree bark, branches, roots, fruits, etc. Tree bark is a favorite source of food for elephants. It contains calcium and is a roughage that aids digestion.

Elephants require between 68.4 and 98.8 liters of water daily, but can consume up to 152 liters. An adult male can drink up to 212 liters of water in less than five minutes.

Reproduction

Puberty in males occurs at the age of about 14 years, but males who have reached 40-50 years of age most often breed with females. Females tend to run away from males, and this game of cat and mouse can go on for a very long time before actual mating occurs.

Males rarely fight for the right to mate with a female. As a rule, young ones give way to older males. There is much speculation that this is not out of fear, but out of respect.

Elephants have a long gestation period of about 22 months. Cubs can weigh up to 120 kg at birth.

After birth, the baby elephant receives care and protection from its own mother, as well as from other females of the herd. Parenting together allows new mothers to eat well and produce nutritious milk for their babies. Baby elephants can drink up to 40 liters of mother's milk every day.

It is believed that the offspring of elephants do not have the same high level survival instincts like other animals. This is why cubs rely so much on their mothers and other females in the herd. They learn faster and acquire new skills all the time.

Number

The African elephant population is estimated to be between 400,000 and 660,000. The IUCN lists the African elephant as critically endangered.

Currently, all Asian elephant subspecies are classified as endangered by the IUCN, with a total population size of between 25,600 and 32,750 individuals. Subspecies asian elephant- Indian elephant ( Elephas maximus indicus) - is the most numerous (from 20,000 to 25,000 individuals).

Threats

Today, most elephants live in national parks that help them survive. These conditions make it possible to monitor animal populations, but confined areas are not well suited for elephants, who like to travel great distances.

One of the reasons why elephants were able to survive for so long in wildlife, is associated with their high level of intelligence. Although they have their own natural habitat, they also have a mentality that allows them to determine when they need to move on and adapt to new conditions in order to survive.

They have no natural predators other than humans. One of the biggest threats to elephants in the wild is their constant destruction. natural environment habitat. This gives them less opportunity to find sufficient food supplies. When elephants are limited certain places, they can completely destroy vegetation. As a result, a threat will arise.

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

Brief description of the squad (and family)

Proboscis - the largest land animals (shoulder height 3-4 m; weight 4-5 tons); were numerous and widespread in the Tertiary period. Proboscideans are the largest in size among modern land mammals. Males are larger than females.
The body is massive, elongated. The neck is short. The head is huge with large fan-shaped ears, small eyes (with nictitating membranes) and a long muscular trunk, at the end of which there are nostrils. Huge incisors of the upper jaw protruding from the mouth in the form of a pair of tusks, no fangs. Tusks grow throughout life. Molars function in shifts; When worn out, it is replaced by the following. The trunk is formed by an elongated nose and upper lip: it is a hollow muscular formation inside, divided along its entire length by a longitudinal septum. At the end of the trunk there are only dorsal or dorsal and ventral grasping finger-like processes. The function of the trunk is varied. It serves for breathing, smelling, touching, and helps with drinking and eating. With its trunk, the elephant plucks grass, tree branches, and fruits and puts them into his mouth, sucks water into his trunk and then injects it into his mouth. The limbs are tall, columnar, five-fingered, each finger is covered with a hoof. The forelimbs have 5, sometimes 4, hooves, and the hind limbs have 3 or 4. The sole under the skin has a jelly-like springy layer that ensures silent walking and movement on viscous ground.
The elephant's skin is grayish in color, has considerable thickness, and is almost naked. Its outer surface is uneven, covered with epidermal tubercles of varying thickness. The epidermis has a cellular inner surface. Hair in adults is sparse and bristly. Newborns have quite thick hair. In the temporal region there is a specific skin gland that produces an abundant secretion of liquid consistency during the period of estrus. unpleasant smell.
There is one pair of nipples - in the chest area, between the front legs. The elephant's skull is enormous, but somewhat shortened. The brain is the largest in mass among terrestrial mammals.
Indian elephants are common in South Asia, and African elephants are common in Africa.
Elephants inhabit forests and savannas, sometimes tall grasses. Usually do not go far from water: Females, cubs and young males form herds of up to 30-400 animals. Adult males usually stay alone, sometimes joining herds. The size of the herd depends on the availability of food, water and disturbance. Active during daylight hours; during hot hours they rest. They feed exclusively on plants, including leaves, fruits, bark, and roots. Feeding migrations take place. They usually move at a walk and can only run at short distances. They swim well. Hearing is well developed, sense of smell is excellent, vision is relatively weak. Sound communication is well presented.
Pregnancy from 20 to 22 months. The female brings one, rarely two cubs. The weight of a newborn is about 100 kg. Soon after birth, the baby follows its mother. He sucks milk with his mouth. Lactation lasts about two years. Sexual maturity occurs approximately in the 9-20th year. Life expectancy is usually 50-80 years.
Elephants were heavily hunted for their tusks, which were highly prized in the market. As a result of direct destruction and indirect impact Due to human activities, the number has fallen sharply and, as a rule, elephants are now numerous only in protected areas. Asian elephants have long been used as working animals.
Proboscideans apparently had common ancestors with sirens and hyraxes. But already from the Paleocene, each of these groups developed independently. In the north of Siberia, in the permafrost, carcasses of extinct elephants - mammoths that lived in Eurasia during the Ice Age - are sometimes found.
U Indian elephant - Elephas maximus only males have tusks; It is easily tamed, but in captivity, as a rule, does not reproduce. African elephant - Loxodonta africanus larger; Females also have tusks; difficult to tame. Extinct mammoth - Elephas primigenius had a thick coat of fur; lived in periglacial areas.

Literature:
1. Zoology course. B. A. Kuznetsov, A. Z. Chernov, L. N. Katonova. Moscow, 1989
2. Naumov N.P., Kartashev N.N. Zoology of vertebrates. - Part 2. - Reptiles, birds, mammals: A textbook for biologists. specialist. univ. - M.: Higher. school, 1979. - 272 p., ill.

Elephants are the largest land mammals. These giants live in the grassy plains and rain forests of sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.

The elephant family consists of three distinct species. The largest of them is savannah elephant, which lives on the African plains. Males reach a height of 4 meters and weigh from 6 to 9 tons. The forest elephant lives in the rain forests of central and western Africa. It is much smaller than its savanna relative: adults grow up to 2.8 meters and weigh no more than 2.7 tons. The Asian elephant inhabits the jungles of the lowlands of South and Southeast Asia. In size and weight, it occupies an intermediate position between its African relatives.

Anatomy of elephants

All elephants have a number of anatomical features.

These mammals have a large barrel-shaped body, characteristic structure spine and concave back. The heavy head and huge body are supported by four column-like legs. All elephants have large floppy ears, but two African species they are much larger than those of the Asian one. A network of blood vessels in the ears removes excess heat from the body, helping elephants not overheat in hot, humid habitats.

The most prominent part of an elephant's body is its trunk. This is a long extension of the upper lip and nose, which are fused together. The trunk is a very strong and flexible organ. Elephants use it for a variety of purposes, such as lifting heavy logs or plucking leaves from high branches. With its help, they also douse themselves with water or dust.

The Asian elephant's trunk is designed slightly differently than that of African species. At the end it has one finger-like process. African elephants have two such processes. They are very mobile and serve to lift small objects.

Another hallmark elephants - large curved tusks, which are elongated incisors. In males they are longer and thicker than in females. In males Asian species the tusks are smaller, and in females they are generally hidden by the lip.

Nutritional Features

To maintain strength in their gigantic bodies, elephants eat a lot. An adult male requires about 160 kilograms of food every day. With their strong trunk, elephants bend the branches and, with the help of shoots at the end, deftly pluck off foliage. These animals feed on a wide variety of plant foods, from bark and branches to grass, leaves, young shoots, and forest elephants sometimes eat fruit. Elephants chew rough plant food thanks to their large, prominent molars and small molars.

While eating, elephants inflict environment serious damage, stripping bark, breaking off branches and even uprooting small trees. In areas where large herds of elephants live, the landscape can fundamentally change: these animals eat up the dense vegetation at the roots, leaving behind an open grassy plain.

Interestingly, elephants supplement their diet with salt. They often visit areas where the soil is rich in this mineral and use their long tusks to break up salt crystals. Information about the location of salt deposits is passed on from generation to generation: young individuals learn about them from older members of the herd.

Order Proboscis

The detachment includes two types of elephants: African and Indian. These are the largest land mammals, which are characterized by a number of features. One of them is the presence of a trunk, which arose as a result of the fusion of the nose and upper lip. It serves as an organ of smell, touch and grasping. With their trunks, elephants sniff, feel, grab leaves and fruits, and can lift large trees, logs, pick up small objects from the ground. The latter is possible due to the fact that there is a finger-like appendage at the end of the trunk.

Another feature of proboscideans is their tusks, the long curved incisors of the upper jaw that grow throughout life. There are no fangs, but there is one molar on each side of the jaws. As the tooth wears out, it is replaced with a new one. The eyes are small, the ears are large. The body of these animals rests on thick legs with small hooves. The skin is thick and almost hairless; hair in the form of a tuft is present at the end of a short tail.

Proboscis is a group of mammals that includes the elephant family and their extinct species relatives (mastodons, mammoths, dinoteria). Distinctive feature The detachment is determined by the presence of a trunk in all its representatives. The habitat of the ancestors of mammals became swampy areas. Therefore, as a result of evolution, they acquired a device for breathing in water - a trunk: its original dimensions were quite small compared to today's trunks of elephants. Later, the respiratory organ, equipped with powerful muscles, began to be used for grasping purposes; with its help, animals plucked leaves and fruits from trees, grass, and on a hot day made a shower out of water or mud.

The trunk is a fused and elongated nose and upper lip. It is driven by approximately fifty thousand muscles.

Another feature that unites the order is thick skin, which resists water pressure, allowing the animal to breathe normally. The tusks of proboscis are modified teeth: fangs or incisors. With their help, animals remove bark from trees, dig out salty deposits in the ground, and also protect themselves from enemies. Elephants have two tusks, represented by incisors. An extinct species, mastodons, had four. They grow throughout their lives; during excavations, tusks were found that reached a length of 4 m.

Currently, the proboscis order includes only the elephant family, which in turn is divided into two species: Asian and African elephants. These are the most large mammals, all members of the family are herbivores. The main habitat of the animals is meadows, but due to their unpretentiousness in choosing food, they can be found in desert areas, forests, and swampy areas. African elephants are slightly taller than their Asian relatives; females and males (only Asian males) have tusks. Elephants have no hair. The tail is poorly developed. During movement, the cub, in order to keep up with the herd, holds on to the tail of an adult relative. Intestinal bacteria help animals digest plant foods, but they cope with this task only 60%.

Option 2

Proboscideans are mammals that have a distinctive feature from other animals - a trunk. The only representatives of animals belonging to this class are elephants. There are many about them interesting facts that every connoisseur should know.

Elephants are one of a kind, they are considered giants because they are about 4 m tall and weigh up to 7 tons. There are also smaller individuals whose height is up to 3 m, but African elephant weighs about 8 tons and looks like a giant. The skin of elephants is thick - 2 cm; the skin of adult individuals is wrinkled, without hair. When a baby is born, it has hair, which disappears over time.

The elephant has a round head, its ears serve it not only as a means of perceiving sound, but they also protect the elephant from the heat; when there is a need to cool down, it simply waves its ears. Although the elephant is a giant animal, it walks silently, but it cannot jump.

The trunk plays a huge role, it performs a whole host of functions, for starters it is worth noting that the trunk is equipped a large number muscles and tendons. When an elephant wants to swim, it takes water into its trunk and waters itself during the heat. Also at the tip of the trunk there are lips and a nose, unique, isn’t it? An elephant uses its trunk to get food for itself, feed itself, and feed its offspring.

Elephants' tusks grow throughout their lives, so the approximate age of the animal can be determined by the massiveness and length of the tusks. The elephant's tail is long, almost to the ground; at the end of the tail there are dense long hairs in the form of a brush, and it is with this brush that the elephant fights off flies.

Although the elephant is a giant, he excellent swimmer, if you look at his speed while running, he runs at a speed of up to 50 km. per hour, but calmly walks 5 km. per hour These animals are among the long-livers; elephants live on average up to 65 years, in some cases even longer.

In captivity, elephants rarely reproduce because there are no favorable conditions, such as temperature regime and freedom. In the wild, an elephant can give birth to offspring every 4 years. By the 12th year of life, the female is ready to bear a baby, and the males reach sexual maturity by the 15th year of life. An elephant carries a baby for 22 months; before giving birth, the female leaves her herd, but does not go far from it; several female elephants go with her to protect her and the newborn baby from predators. Sometimes, if difficulties arise during childbirth, female elephants help pull the baby out. Mostly a baby is born alone; it is rare to find that a mother elephant gives birth to two calves at once.

• Squid - message report (3rd, 7th grade, World around us, Biology)

  Squids are the most mobile mollusks belonging to the class of cephalopods. They are capable of moving at enormous speeds, which can reach 200 km/h

  The modern world cannot do without people who have power and the right to be first. For animals, it's the same. Leo is the king of beasts, a hackneyed word, of course, but still fair