How can a creature weighing over 5 tons and normally taking 150 kilograms of food and 120 liters of water per day survive in a desert environment?
In the southwest African country of Namibia, and the Sahara lands of Mali further north, the desert elephant does just that.
Although not regarded as a separate species from the African elephant, the desert cousin differs in many ways. Their bodies are smaller, to absorb less heat, and their feet are larger for easier walking across sandy surfaces. They are taller, to reach higher branches. They have shorter tusks （象牙）， and most importantly, longer trunks to dig for water in riverbeds.
Desert clephants can travel over 70 kilometers in search for feeding grounds and waterholes, and have a larger group of families, They drink only every 3-4 days, and can store water in a “bag” at the back of their throat, which is only used when badly needed. Desert elephants are careful feeders-they seldom root up trees and break fewer branches, and thus maintain what little food sources are available. Yong elephants may even eat the dung （粪便）of the female leader of a group when facing food shortage.
During drought they are unlikely to give birth to their young but with good rains the birthrate will increase greatly. Desert elephants have sand baths, sometimes adding their own urine (尿液) to make them muddy!
As we continue to overheat our weak planet, it can only be hoped that other animal species will adapt as extraordinarily well to change as the desert elephant.
纯手工的加分，谢！！！！！！！！！
西南地区的非洲国家纳米比亚，和撒哈拉土地进一步马里北部，沙漠大象并不只是这一点。
虽然不被视为一个单独的物种从非洲象，沙漠表弟在许多方面有所不同。他们的身体较小,吸收热量少，他们的脚大，更容易行走在沙地表面。他们更高，达到更高的分支机构。他们短象牙，最重要的是，不再树干挖水的河床。
沙漠旅行可以超过70公里，寻找觅食地和住所，并有较大的集团的家庭，他们每3-4天饮用一次水，并可以储存水在一个“包”在后面的喉咙，这是唯一急需时使用。食物来源很少有。女性领导者的一组时面临的粮食短缺时有大象甚至可能吃牛粪。
在干旱时，他们不太可能生下他们年轻一代，但雨量充沛的出生率将大大增加。沙漠象沙浴，有时还自己的尿 ，使他们泥泞！
随着我们继续热化我们的星球，它只能希望其他动物物种都变成适应变化的沙漠大象。
