# Borneo elephant (*Elephas maximus borneensis*) The Borneo elephant is a special type of Asian elephant found only on the island of Borneo. They are smaller than other elephants and have smaller ears, making them unique and adorable! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Bornean pygmy elephant ![Borneo elephant](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Borneo-elephant-PLoS_Biology.jpg&width=800) Photo: PLoS Biology, CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Borneo-elephant-PLoS_Biology.jpg) ## Appearance The Borneo elephant is the smallest Asian elephant subspecies, having a rounder face, larger ears, and straighter tusks compared to its relatives. Its skin is typically a dark gray, and it often has a longer tail almost touching the ground. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Proboscidea - **Family:** Elephantidae - **Genus:** Elephas ## Interesting facts - A baby Borneo elephant, called a calf, can weigh over 200 pounds at birth! - Borneo elephants can eat hundreds of pounds of plants every single day to stay full! - Their unique DNA shows they have been isolated on Borneo for 300,000 years! - These amazing elephants use their huge ears to help cool down their giant bodies! ## Special abilities - **Forest Gardener:** The Borneo elephant helps the rainforest grow by eating fruits and spreading seeds far and wide through its droppings. - **Jungle Architect:** These elephants can create clear paths through dense forests, making trails for other animals to follow and access resources. - **Water Navigator:** Borneo elephants are excellent swimmers, using their trunks as snorkels to cross deep rivers and reach new areas. - **Sensitive Explorer:** Their long, powerful trunk is incredibly sensitive, used for smelling, breathing, drinking, and grasping objects with precision. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 300-400 cm - **Weight:** 2000-3000 kg - **Lifespan:** 60-70 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 610-660 days ## Diet & Feeding These gentle giants munch on a huge variety of plants, like grasses, leaves, fruits, and bark, all day long! - **Primary Foods:** Grasses, Leaves, Shoots, Bark, Fruits, Roots - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Symbiotic with:** Cluster Fig (*Ficus racemosa*) — Elephants eat figs and disperse seeds, helping fig trees grow. - **Depends on:** [Dung beetle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dung-beetle) (*Catharsius molossus*) — Dung beetles feed on elephant droppings, recycling forest nutrients. - **Eaten by:** Bornean Clouded Leopard (*Neofelis diardi*) — Clouded leopards might prey on young or weak elephant calves. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Tusked](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tusked): Characterized by having long, pointed, projecting teeth, usually in pairs. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Always watch elephants from a safe distance and never try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Borneo elephant? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Borneo elephant? 300-400 cm ### How much does Borneo elephant weigh? 2000-3000 kg ### How long does Borneo elephant live? 60-70 years ### How fast can Borneo elephant move? 40 km/h ### What does Borneo elephant eat? These gentle giants munch on a huge variety of plants, like grasses, leaves, fruits, and bark, all day long! ### Where is Borneo elephant usually found? Forests ### How does Borneo elephant hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Borneo elephant: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/borneo-elephant)