The evolution of elephants was very successful. They were once seen all over the world. However, the rise of humans caused elephants to suffer a devastating blow. Today there are only three types of elephants left in the world: Asian elephants, African savannah elephants , and African bush elephants. Relatively speaking, African savanna elephants have the largest number and are the most common and are the most thoroughly studied. Today, we will take African savanna elephants as an example. Let’s talk about elephant society first. Interesting animal knowledge will increase.
The matrilineal society of elephants
The maternal society of elephants is roughly composed of three groups, namely the matrilineal clan group composed of mother elephants and cubs, bachelor clubs composed of single male elephants, and Alone. The bull elephant to.
Elephants are typical matrilineal social animals. Their matrilineal clan groups are very strong, usually composed of an older female patriarch, sisters of the matriarch, and their minor offspring. The elephant’s brain weighs 4.8 kilograms, which makes them have extraordinary memory and logic capabilities. Based on the experience accumulated over the years, the elephant matriarch leads the family members to find food and water, and sometimes leads the family to migrate unexpectedly. Great place. Another important job of the elephant matriarch is to teach the naughty little elephants how to abide by family rules.
The matrilineal group of elephants usually consists of dozens of elephants, sometimes more than 20. If there are too many family members, certain prestigious female elephants will lead their followers to leave the family and establish themselves elsewhere.
If the matriarch dies, the elephant herd will enter the chaotic stage of dragons without a leader, which will last for about a month, and then they will elect a new matriarch. According to the observation of scientists, what is interesting is that the original second-in-command usually does not become the new matriarch. Maybe he is used to it, comfortable, and don't bother to fight for the first place.
When the baby elephants grow up, the mother elephant will stay with the mother elephant and contribute to the prosperity of the family, while the more and more unruly male elephants, because of puberty,They often do extraordinary things, and the female elephants can't bear it, so they will be driven away.
Elephant Bachelors
Male elephants who leave the matrilineal clan generally have two places. First, they join a fixed bachelor club, where there are many male elephants like themselves; second, they don’t join any groups. Alone.
The bachelor clubs of male elephants are not as closely connected as the clan groups of female elephants. They have no blood ties. They are relatively loose, and it is common to get in and out. However, like the mother elephant, they also have a strict hierarchy.
As for the status, it is naturally determined by force. The elephant leader always walks to the front of the team arrogantly, eating first, drinking first, and fertility rights will be dragged firmly in his hands. Sometimes we can see other male elephants gently touching the leader's mouth with their noses, which is a sign of surrender, while the leader Shan spreads his ears and fanned it is a sign of deterrence.
Unlike female elephants, the level of male elephants is not fixed. When a male elephant is in heat, the male hormones in the body soar up to 50 times, making it extremely aggressive. Even the leader male elephant is afraid of it by three points. , Will briefly "resign to the virtuous", giving it priority in the right to choose a spouse.
It seems that the leader male elephant does not seem to have much advantage in childbearing, but it is not. The estrus period of the chief male elephant is generally very long, while the estrus period of the general male elephant is only a few days. Selectively giving up the right to mate will make it easier for other male elephants to submit to their rule. Otherwise, a male elephant reigns for several decades, which must not drive other male elephants crazy.
Speaking of the estrus period of a male elephant, if a young male elephant enters the estrus period, even if the male hormones in its body rise again, it will only be a severe beating for the male elephant in the end, and teach it how to be a qualified elephant. Later, the little male elephant would not dare to estrus casually, until he was strong enough. It's good for big male elephants to bully the little ones, because female elephants don't look down on little male elephants at all. There is nowhere for a female elephant to vent, and in the end there will always be animals to suffer. This rhino has more experience.
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