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Prince of Africa


Prince of Africa
Photo Information
Copyright: Subhash Ranjan (sranjan) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 131 W: 33 N: 356] (1222)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-06
Categories: Mammals
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite African animal photos [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-06-27 18:45
Viewed: 333
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I have clicked this adolescent africal elephant at National Zoological Park, Delhi. He is being groomed by foster mother of indian origin.

African elephants are the heaviest land animal, and the second tallest in the Animal Kingdom. They are a sexually dimorphic species; males appear larger than females. The height of a bull at his shoulder is about twelve feet (about 3.75 m), when the female’s height is nine feet (about 3 m). They have enormous ears, each measuring about four feet (120-125 cm) across. They have a unique nose that is simply a long, boneless trunk extending from the upper lip. The trunk usually measures about five feet long (about 150 cm) and weighs around 300 pounds (about 135 kg). The two finger-like projections on the tip are so dexterous they can pick a blade of grass. The trunk itself is so strong it is capable of lifting 600 pounds (250- 275 kg). Their incisor teeth develop into tusks about 8 feet long (245-250 cm) and can weigh about 130 pounds (60 kg) each. The only other teeth they have are four molars which are replaced three times throughout their lives after the previous set wears down. African elephants have dark gray skin which is scattered with black hairs that wear off through the years. As a result the adults are mostly hairless. Their skin is about 2 1/2 inches (2-4 cm) thick, but flies, mosquitoes and parasites still penetrate it. There are two currently recognized subspecies which differ in their geographic location, tusk length, and weight. Forest elephants, Loxodonta africana cyclotis, typically reside in rain forests. They have more slender tusks and are smaller in height and weight than savannah/desert elephants (Loxodonta africana africana) who usually are found in grasslands.

Loxodonta africana is one of 16 mammals that will be sequenced as part of the Mammalian Genome Project, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A group of species were chosen to maximise the branch length of the evolutionary tree while representing the diversity of mammalian species.
CeltickRanger, japiey, ramthakur has marked this note useful
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To ramthakur: Hellosranjan 1 06-28 20:58
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Critiques [Translate]

great shot..
gives a feeling of being in the wild

rgds

hello Subhash

this is a great shot of a wonderful wild animal, very fine POV,
DOF and framing, i love that you clicked the image when
the young elephant was walking, excellent sharpness
and details of the subject(s), and even if the image was takin
at the National Zoological Park in Delhi i will add this young
African Elephant image on my « African Animals theme »,
and i love the title you gived to this image,

i am like Pushpinder : « it gives a feeling of being in the wild »,

TFS

Asbed

Hello Ranjan,
Yes it gives a feeling of being in the wild,superb shot.
TFS

Hi Subash,

Even if the shot is from the park, it gives a feel of wild..
The notes help to understand more of the animal.
Good capture, with fine tones.
All the best.

jp

A delightful capture of this young African Elephant, Subhash.
I like the way you have clicked the picture when the young fellow seems to be in a happy mood. The expression on its face and the position of its ears conveys it strongly.
Well done and TFS.
Ram

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