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Kallana
Kallana ( ml, കല്ലാന) is a suspected species of dwarf elephants allegedly found in South India. Kaani tribals dwelling in the rainforests of the Western Ghats (Kerala, India) claim that there are two distinct varieties of elephants in the Peppara forest range, one the common Indian elephants (''Elephas maximus indicus''), and the other a dwarf variety which they call ''kallana''. The name ''kallana'' comes from the words "kallu", which means stones or boulders, and "aana", which means elephant. The tribals gave the creatures this name because they see the smaller elephant more often in the higher altitudes where the terrain is rocky. Some tribals also call the delicate creatures ''thumbiana'' (''thumbi'' means ''dragonfly'') for the speed with which the pachyderms run through trees and rocks when disturbed. Behaviour and diet According to the Kani tribals, the pygmy elephants feed on grass, bamboo leaves, tubers and the Bark (botany), barks of smaller trees. Like ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elephas
''Elephas'' is one of two surviving genera in the family of elephants, Elephantidae, with one surviving species, the Asian elephant, ''Elephas maximus''. Several extinct species have been identified as belonging to the genus, extending back to the Pliocene era. While formerly assigned to this genus, ''Elephas recki'', the straight-tusked elephant ''E. antiquus'' and the dwarf elephants '' E. falconeri'' and '' E. cypriotes'' are now placed in the separate genus ''Palaeoloxodon''. The genus is very closely related to the genus '' Mammuthus''. Taxonomy The scientific name ''Elephas'' was proposed by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 who described the genus and an elephant from Ceylon. The genus is assigned to the proboscidean family Elephantidae and is made up of one living and seven extinct species:Maglio, V.J. (1973). "Origin and evolution of the Elephantidae". ''Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia Volume 63''. American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, pp. 1 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |