D&D Stats
Elephant Huge Animal
Hit Dice: 11d8+55 (104 hp)
Initiative: +0 (Dex)
Speed: 40 ft.
AC: 15 (-2 size, +7 natural)
Attacks: Slam +16 melee, 2 stamps +11 melee; or gore +16 melee
Damage: Slam 2d6+10, stamp 2d6+5; gore 2d8+15
Face/Reach: 10 ft. by 20 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Trample 2d8+15
Special Qualities: Scent
Saves: Fort +12, Ref +7, Will +4
Abilities: Str 30, Dex 10, Con 21, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 7
Skills: Listen +6, Spot +6
Feats: -
Climate/Terrain: Warm forest and plains
Organization: Solitary or herd (6-30)
Challenge Rating: 8
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 12-22 HD (Huge)
Elephant This entry describes an African elephant. Indian
elephants are slightly smaller and weaker (Strength 28), but more
readily trained (Wisdom 15). These statistics can also represent
prehistoric creatures such as mammoths and mastodons.
Trample (Ex): An elephant can trample Medium-size or smaller
creatures for automatic gore damage. Opponents who do not make
attacks of opportunity against the elephant can attempt a Reflex
save (DC 20) to halve the damage.
Cheopian Elephants are African Elephants
African elephants are living members of the order “Proboscidea”
named for the trunk or nose. They are also called pachyderms for
the Greek pachy derma or "thick skin." The African elephant consists
of two distinct subspecies, the bush elephant, Loxodonta
africana africana, and the forest elephant Loxodonta
africana cyclotis). Differences between these subspecies are
subtle but significant. The forest African elephant is smaller, has
rounder ears, and its tusks grow straighter and are made of harder
ivory.
Elephants have played a role in human history for thousands of
years. Because of their great strength, high intelligence, and
good memory. They have helped fight many battles, been used for
heavy labor and entertained millions of people. The first recorded
use of elephants was around 5,500 years ago.
During the time of the Roman Empire (218 BC), African elephants
were used by Hannibal to fight wars against Rome. Thousands of
soldiers along with 38 elephants marched over the Alps to try and
overthrow the Roman Empire. The use of elephants during battle,
however, was later abandoned because the elephants would sometimes
become frightened, turn to run and trample soldiers underfoot..
Riding an elephant is usually accomplished by using a platform
saddle, or howdah, strapped to the elephant's back.
Durability:
The large volume to surface ratio yields a problem of metabolic heat
elimination which the elephants have solved with their large ears.
Rather than losing valuable water through sweating, elephant ears
are flooded with blood for radiant and convective cooling.
Elephants also wallow and throw dirt on themselves to protect
themselves from the sun and biting insects.
Elephants are herbivorous, eating mainly grasses; leaves, woody parts
of trees and shrubs, flowers, fruits and roots are also eaten. Adults
need about 330 pounds of food and 22 gallons of water each day.
Elephants are known to topple tress to feed on them.
Behavior
Clans of related females and their offspring are the main social
unit. Clans can range from 6 to 70 individuals. Males disperse and
join male groups. They occasionally follow clans in hopes of getting
matings.
Bulls enter an aggressive condition called musth during
the rutting season. Males fight for females and dominance is
usually due to size, fighting ability, and temperament. Fights may
involve trunk wrestling or escalate to tusk charges, which can be
fatal. The winner may mark the territory around a clan with a
temporal gland sac.
There are several interesting social behaviors that have been
observed in African elephants. They have been seen to help young and
wounded elephants over obstacles. They have been observed to carry
dead elephants and even bury them under branches; individuals have
been seen standing by the bones of dead elephants for hours and also
to carry bones around.
Speed
Elephantine stance is graviportal. Although the heels of the hands
and feet are raised, a large and thick callus of skin and connective
tissue fills this space to yield a flattened footprint. Mature
elephants are too heavy to run or gallop, but an angry or frightened
elephant can fast-walk for a short distance reaching speeds of 25-30
mph due to their long stride.
On a long journey, a herd of elephants travels at about 10 miles an
hour.
Height, Weight and Life Cycle
African Elephants are the largest land mammals, adults massing
anywhere between five and seventeen thousand pounds. Females stand
7 - 8 1/2 feet in height at the shoulder. Males are 10 1/2 - 13
feet.
The gestation period is as long as 24 months, usually producing a
single calf with a birth weight of about 265 pounds. The newborn
can walk after 15-30 minutes. Adult size is achieved in about 10
years, and sexual maturity occurs at about 15 years. Bull and cow
herds live apart. Matriarch herds (the most common) exhibit
complex social behavior.
The mother and all of the aunts are quite protective of calves, who
are sometimes preyed upon by hyenas, lions and large crocodiles.
Weaning occurs at about 5 years of age. Elephant lifespan is similar
to that of man. Life span in the wild is about 15-30 years, in
captivity 60-80 years.
Nose to Tail
Trunk: An elephant's upper lip and nose are elongated and
muscularized to form a trunk, which is used for feeding, pulling up
vegetation, throwing dust, squirting water, vocalizations and as a
snorkel as well as an organ of touch, smell and communication.
Prehensile “fingers” at the end of the trunk can pick up and
manipulate very small objects. In Swahili, "trunk" is mkono,
or hand.
Tusks: Tusks can be used to force bark off trees, to dig for
roots, or as weapons.
Teeth: Elephants have only six teeth, which erupt throughout
life, replacing one another as they move forward. Once the sixth
tooth has worn down, there are no more, and animals may starve to
death.
Ears: The ears are large to aid in temperature regulation.
BodiesTheir bodies are grey in color and covered with a thick,
craggy skin sparsely haired. The hide is between an inch and an
inch-and-a-half thick.
Feet: Large surface area of foot spreads great weight of
animal over a wide area; thick padded soles absorb shock and cushion
legs.
Links:
About Elephants
Loxodonta africana
