An elephant's ivory tusks are the animal's second most distinctive feature-and also one of the main reasons humans pose a threat to elephants. Used for digging, fighting and even as a resting place for the heavy trunk, these tusks have been prized by hunters for centuries for use in decorative arts, game pieces, signature seals, and musical instruments. Elephant tusks are actually enlarged, protruding incisor teeth and have been recorded at lengths as long as 10 feet. In recent years, however, average tusk size has diminished significantly. Poaching has led to artificial selection pressure against large tuskers, while herds have often become fragmented with loss of habitat.
Elephants also have other, lesser known distinguishing characteristics.
Smell and touch are perhaps their most keen senses, and their hearing is also surprisingly acute. Even from a distance they can warn each other of impending danger or coordinate movements toward food and water. The elephant brain is also relatively large compared to that of many other animals, allowing for an intellect we are only beginning to understand. Elephants have been observed using twigs and branches as tools for foraging and grooming. In relation to body size, however, an elephant's brain is only about one-tenth the size of a human's.