What Are Elephants' Whiskers For? And Where Are They Located? 0 7

Elephants, being some of the largest animals on the planet, require a large amount of food, and their feeding method is radically different from that of most mammals. Instead of grabbing food from the front, they use their trunks for lateral grasping, which has led to evolutionary changes in the structure of their whiskers.

The research team analyzed photographs, videos, and samples of deceased individuals. The team found that elephants have two types of whiskers: microvibrissae located on the sides of the lower lip, and macrovibrissae in the center. These organs play an important role in perceiving the environment. © Shutterstock/FOTODOM

Professor Michael Brecht from Humboldt University in Berlin emphasized that the anatomy of elephants' whiskers is unusual for mammals. It was also noted that elephants show preferences in trunk usage, leading to wear on the whiskers on one side.

This discovery deepens the understanding of elephants' adaptation to their unique lifestyle and feeding habits.

In addition to vibrissae, elephants also have bristles on their trunks—a unique organ in its own right.