African forest elephant

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/african-forest-elephant

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is African forest elephant?Average shoulder height of 2.16 meters (7 ft 1 in)
2. How many people live in African forest elephant?Estimated fewer than 30,000 individuals
3. What is the scientific name?Loxodonta cyclotis
4. What is the habitat?Humid tropical forests in West Africa and the Congo Basin
5. What does the African forest elephant look like?They are smaller than other elephants, about 2.16 meters tall, with rounder ears and straight, downward‑pointing tusks that help them dig in the thick jungle.
6. Why do African forest elephants have straight tusks?The straight, long tusks point downwards, which is useful for moving through dense undergrowth and digging for roots and water.

Keystone Species: A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.
Matriarchal Society: A social system where females, particularly older ones, hold the primary positions of authority and leadership.
Habitat Fragmentation: The process by which large, continuous habitats are broken into smaller, isolated patches, hindering species movement and gene flow.