Difference Between Male and Female Elephants

The key difference between male and female elephants is that adult male elephants are generally larger and more robust than females. They have larger body sizes, bigger heads, and larger tusks (if present).

Male and female elephants are prime examples to show the differences between opposite sexes. However, male and female calves are almost similar in their behaviours until puberty, and then they start to be different. When males reach puberty, they are chased out of herds, while females remain with the herd.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. Male Elephants
3. Female Elephants
4. Male vs. Female Elephants in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Male vs. Female Elephants

Male Elephants

Male elephants are often referred to as bulls or bull elephants. They are famed for their aggression which gets elevated during the musth period. As Charles Darwin (1871) quotes, “No animal in the world is so dangerous as an elephant in musth”. During this period, testosterone secretion is very high, causing excessive masculine behaviours. The temporal gland, between the eye and ear, swells and secretes musth during this period. As the temporal glands on both sides of the head swell more, a terrible headache occurs, which would be almost as painful as a root abscess toothache. Earlier, it was hypothesized that the musth is an indication of readiness for mating with a female, but there is no synchronization observed with oestrus in females.

In the wild, elephants live in family groups, and the males are chased out of the herd after puberty in order to stop inbreeding. Therefore, males live a solitary life, but sometimes, there are small bachelor groups. Interestingly, homosexual males have been observed in both African and Asian wild elephants. Generally, males grow stronger and slightly bigger than females, as in most other animal species.

Female Elephants

Female elephants are often referred to as cows. Generally, a female reaches puberty around 10 years, but recent studies on their reproductive biology have confirmed that normal oestrous cycling could start at five to six years of age and, additionally, recorded pregnancies at nine-year-old females. Although cows have a temporal gland, musth condition does not occur.

Elephants have the longest oestrus cycle and gestation length. The oestrus cycle is 15 – 16 weeks long with two distinctive phases known as follicular and luteal. Ovulation occurs at the start of the luteal phase, and a male should mate during that period for successful conceiving. The gestation lasts for about 22 months, and the calf is cared for with the greatest concentration a cow could offer. Their caring for calves is irresistible, as quoted in Fowler and Mikota (2006). Females live in herds, and most of the social behaviours help them to be strong in the wild. The older female is the matriarch of the family, and she teaches the younger cows how to care for the calves and etc. It has also been observed that herd-living captive female elephants are more successful in breeding aspects, viz. cycling, mating, caring for calves…etc.

What is the Difference Between Male and Female Elephants?

Adult male elephants are generally larger and more robust than females. They have larger body sizes, bigger heads, and larger tusks (if present). This is the key difference between male and female elephants. Male elephants are more aggressive, especially during the musth period, while female elephants exhibit less aggression. Moreover, female elephants have a more significant role in reproduction, with longer gestation, oestrus cycles, and maternal care. Female elephants are more social and live in family herds, while males often lead a more solitary life.

The following table summarizes the difference between male and female elephants.