Range Southeast Asia Habitat Tropical forests. Largest tusk recorded was more than ten feet long and weighed 226 pounds. These large animals have grayish-colored skin which is wrinkled and baggy. The term pachyderm refers to the 1 inch thick hide. The thick skin does not protect them from cold, however, and exposure to cold can bring on severe cramps.
Body hair is scarce, being most apparent on young animals and on the end of the tail of adults.
The skull is honeycombed with sinuses, which lightens the weight in order to compensate for hearty tusks and teeth. Both sexes grow tusks but Asian cow's remain very small and unnoticeable. Tusks are used to dig for food, to lift and carry objects and in fighting Molars may weigh 9 pounds each and measure about 1 foot long. Only 4 of these are present at a time, one in each side of upper and lower jaws. As these are being worn down, new molars gradually push old ones forward out.