Beneath the grime is a dull brownish gray skin. A n African elephant's ears may measure five feet from top to bottom. The right ear is shaped somewhat like the African continent. The lower ear lobes often bear holes, souvenirs of injuries. Ears of Asian elephants are considerably smaller.
Large ears help focus sound waves, enhancing hearing.
The ears also aid in regulating body temperature. They bear a network of veins, similar to the systems scientists say once graced the plates on stegosaurs. On a hot still day, an elephant may flap its ears to help cool the blood flowing through its ear veins. The leg bones are filled with spongy bone, lacking marrow cavities. Both species have five nails on each forefoot.