1 forest elephant | Definition of forest elephant

forest elephant

noun

Definition of forest elephant

: an African elephant of central and western rain forests that is sometimes considered a species (Loxodonta cyclotis) or subspecies (Loxodonta africana cyclotis) distinct from the savanna elephant Africa's reclusive forest elephants and the herds that trundle across its savannas are as genetically distinct as leopards are from lions, and thus should be reclassified as separate species, geneticists say.— Andrew C. Revkin, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2001

First Known Use of forest elephant

1911, in the meaning defined above

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