Proboscidea

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/proboscidea

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. What is the scientific name?Proboscidea. Living genera include Loxodonta (African elephants) and Elephas (Asian elephants)
2. What is the related topics?Mammalia, Sirenia, Embrithopoda, Pleistocene megafauna, Keystone species, Wildlife conservation
3. What are Proboscidea and why do they have trunks?Proboscidea are the order of elephant-like mammals. Their trunks are a fusion of the nose and upper lip, and they help the animals breathe, smell, touch, drink, and pick up food.
4. How many muscles are in an elephant's trunk?An elephant's trunk contains about 40,000 individual muscles, giving it both strength and great precision.

Proboscis: The elongated, prehensile nose and upper lip fusion characteristic of proboscideans, vital for sensory and manipulative functions.
Tusks: Modified upper incisor teeth, composed of dentine (ivory), used for foraging, defense, and social interaction.
Matriarchal Society: A social structure led by an older, experienced female, characterized by strong kinship bonds and learned behaviors.
Keystone Species: A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance, significantly shaping ecosystem structure.