The etymological origin of the term elephant is found in Latin. Specifically, it derives from “elephans – elephantis” which, in turn, comes from the Greek “elefas”.
The elephant is the largest land animal . It is a mammal that is part of the group of proboscidians : those species that have a prehensile trunk and whose extremities have five fingers that end in hooves and are linked by a mass of meat.
The most notable physical characteristic of elephants, in addition to their enormous size, is their trunk , which joins the upper lip and nose. Its large ears , unlike its small eyes and head , constitute another of its peculiarities, while its two incisor teeth (which are usually called fangs ) also stand out.
There are currently two genera of elephants: Asian elephants ( Elephas ) and African elephants ( Loxodonta ). There are scientists who maintain that the two subspecies of African elephants are, in fact, different species, although there is no consensus on the matter.
An elephant seal , on the other hand, is an aquatic animal with a physical appearance similar to that of a seal . Male specimens of this genus have an extensive snout similar to a proboscis.
Southern elephant seals live on Patagonian coasts, in Antarctica and in areas of Tasmania and Australia . Northern elephant seals , for their part, reside in the North American West.
In the same way, we cannot ignore that the elephant is an animal that, in different corners of the world, is seen as a symbol of good luck. Specifically, for Hindus it not only attracts prosperity but also a long life, helps to be more patient and provides wisdom.
In addition, it is also associated with fighting against adversity, warding off envy and learning to be resilient. Of course, in all these cases the figure of the elephant that is possessed to attract all those positive things must have its trunk facing upwards.
The notion of elephant is also used in various expressions of colloquial use. When someone stands out for having a long memory , it is said that they have “the memory of an elephant” (in reference to their size). A “white elephant” , on the other hand, is something that is very expensive to maintain and yet has no use or benefits .
The elephant is an animal that has been very present in the world of culture. Thus, for example, we cannot ignore that the best-known specimen is, without a doubt, Dumbo. It is about an elephant, protagonist of the film of the same title, who lives in a circus and is ridiculed for his big ears, which causes him great pain.
However, there will come a time when he will discover that those ears allow him to fly and that will make him become the true star of the aforementioned circus.
That character was created by the writer Helen Aberson for the book of the same name, which was illustrated by Harold Pearl. However, Walt Disney adapted it in 1941 for the big screen and this 2019 the story of that animal has been re-versioned.