The trunk is an organ of touch, smell, and communication. The tip has two finger-like lips, used for feeding, pulling up vegetation, throwing dust, squirting water, and as a snorkel, a weapon, and for vocalization. It contains 150,000 muscle units, and can grow up to 6 feet long weighing 300 pounds. Tusks are made of ivory and grow continuously throughout an elephant's life, sometimes as much as 7 inches a year. They drink up to 50 gallons of water daily.
Elephants are diurnal, or active during the day.
They live in herds of females and offspring led by a matriarch. Adult males form their own herds or travel alone. The gestation period in elephants is 22 months. Females are fertile for four days every two years. Birth weight is between 250-300 pounds.