African Animal Book (1)

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Elephants are the largest living land animals. There are three species, or kinds: the African savanna elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. They make up the elephant family of mammals. Mammoths and mastodons also belonged to this family, but they are now extinct. Elephants’ skin is thick, wrinkled, and not very hairy. It is grayish to brown in color. An elephant’s trunk is an extension of the nose and upper lip. An elephant uses its trunk to grab food and to put it into the mouth. It can also draw water into the trunk and then blow it into the mouth. 2

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The giraffe is the tallest living animal. It can reach a height of more than 18 feet (5.5 meters). Giraffes live on the plains of eastern Africa. Giraffes have a short body, but their legs and neck are very long. The coat is light brown with reddish brown spots. Many giraffes have two short horns between the ears. Giraffes have large nostrils and a good sense of smell. Their tongues are more than 18 inches (45 centimeters) long. 4

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The lion is the second largest member of the cat family after the tiger. Lions live in parts of Africa and India. Their loud roar is among the most terrifying sounds of the grasslands. The lion has a long body, short legs, sharp claws, and a large head. Adult males are about 9 to 10 feet (2.7 to 3 meters) long, including the tail. They stand about 3 feet (1 meter) tall at the shoulder and can weigh 370 to 500 pounds (170 to 230 kilograms). Females are shorter and more slender. 6

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Zebras are mammals that are known for their black and white stripes. They belong to the horse family of animals. There are three species, or types, of zebra: the plains zebra, Grevy’s zebra, and the mountain zebra. They live in various parts of Africa. Zebras look similar to horses. They stand between 47 and 55 inches (120 and 140 centimeters) tall at the shoulder. Each species of zebra has its own pattern of stripes. The plains zebra has broad stripes that are widely spaced. The stripes of Grevy’s zebra are narrow and closely spaced, and the belly is white. 8

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