Elephant, largest living land mammal, of Africa and Asia. It has a massive head, thick legs, and tough, grey skin. The upper lip extends into a long, flexible trunk used for drinking, spraying, conveying food to the mouth, and touching; the large ears provide an extensive cooling surface. African bull elephants may measure 13 ft (4 m) high at the shoulder and weigh 6 to 8 tons (5400 to 7200 kg). Hunted for their great, curved ivory tusks, they have become endangered. Highly intelligent, they are used in foresting and trained as circus and zoo performers. African elephants use infrasonic frequencies (those below the range of human hearing) for communication.