Fossil remains of Loxodonta species have been found in Africa, spanning from the Late Miocene (from around 7–6 million years ago) onwards.

[9][10][11][12][13] In 1907, Richard Lydekker proposed six African elephant subspecies based on the different sizes and shapes of their ears.

[22] Analysis of nuclear DNA sequences indicates that the genetic divergence between African bush and forest elephants dates 2.6 – 5.6 million years ago.

The African forest elephant was found to have a high degree of genetic diversity, likely reflecting periodic fragmentation of their habitat during the changes in the Pleistocene.

[24] African elephants have grey folded skin up to 30 mm (1.2 in) thick that is covered with sparse, bristled dark-brown to black hair.

Short tactile hair grows on the trunk, which has two finger-like processes at the tip, whereas Asian elephants only have one.

Flapping them creates air currents and exposes the ears' inner sides where large blood vessels increase heat loss during hot weather.

[25] Tusks are primarily used to dig for roots and strip the bark from trees for food, for fighting each other during the mating season, and for defending themselves against predators.

The largest recorded bull stood 3.96 metres (13.0 ft) at the shoulder, and is estimated to have weighed 10,400 kg (22,900 lb).

Fully grown African forest elephant males in optimal conditions where individuals are capable of reaching full growth potential are estimated to be on average 2.09–2.31 metres (6.9–7.6 ft) tall and 1,700–2,300 kilograms (3,700–5,100 lb) in weight.

[31] African elephants are distributed in Sub-Saharan Africa, where they inhabit Sahelian scrubland and arid regions, tropical rainforests, mopane and miombo woodlands.

Both African elephant species live in family units comprising several adult cows, their daughters and their subadult sons.

[39] While feeding, the African elephant uses its trunk to pluck leaves and its tusks to tear at branches, which can cause enormous damage to foliage.

[40] The large size and hindgut of the African elephant also allows for the digestion of various plant parts, including fibrous stems, bark and roots.

[42] They have a very large and highly convoluted neocortex, a trait they share with humans, apes and some dolphin species.

[44] Elephants exhibit a wide variety of behaviours, including those associated with grief, learning, mimicry, art, play, a sense of humor, altruism, use of tools, compassion, cooperation,[45] self-awareness, memory and possibly language.

[33] African elephants show sexual dimorphism in weight and shoulder height by age 20, due to the rapid early growth of males.

However, females are not guarded in the early and late stages of estrus, which may permit mating by younger males not in musth.

[citation needed] Both species are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, and poaching for the illegal ivory trade is a threat in several range countries as well.

[61] In the 1980s, it was difficult to carry out systematic surveys in several East African range countries due to civil wars.

Playback of the recorded sounds of angry Western honey bees has been found to be remarkably effective at prompting elephants to flee an area.

[67] Farmers have tried scaring elephants away by more aggressive means such as fire or the use of chili peppers along fences to protect their crops.

This database includes results from aerial surveys, dung counts, interviews with local people and data on poaching.

[69] In 1989, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora listed the African elephant on CITES Appendix I.

This listing banned international trade of African elephants and their body parts by countries that signed the CITES agreement.

[73] In 2019, the export of wild African elephants to zoos around the world was banned, with an exception added by the EU to allow export in "exceptional cases where … it is considered that a transfer to ex-situ locations will provide demonstrable in-situ conservation benefits for African elephants".

[80] South Africa uses elephant tusks in their coat of arms to represent wisdom, strength, moderation and eternity.

[81] In the western African Kingdom of Dahomey, the elephant was associated with the 19th century rulers of the Fon people, Guezo and his son Glele.

The coat of arms of the Central African Republic features the head of an elephant in the upper left quadrant of the shield.

The coat of arms of Ivory Coast features the head of an elephant as the focal point of the emblem.