The Asian species has two finger-like protrutions while the African has one. Generally, the Asian elephant has more hair on its body than the African elephant, and it is especially conspicuous in the newborn and juveniles. The body colour could be anything from dark gray of different shades, to dark brown, depending on the colour of the soil and mud where the elephants have bathed and dusted. Mature Sri Lankan elephants in particular display heavy pinkish pigmentation of the skin around the ears, face and trunk. Only males sprout tusks rarely.
Females are much smaller.
All elephant species have one of the longest gestation periods in the animal kingdom, of 18-20 months. Elephants reach sexual maturity between the ages of 8 and 14 years, but this varies with the prevailing conditions of the habitat. For instance during severe periods of draught, puberty may be delayed even up to age of 14-15 years. As a result the elephant spends most of it's life eating, and therefore has to seek out a continous and abundant supply of food and water. Their diet is strictly herbivorous.