Asian Elephant, Elephas maximus, Asia The boneless, muscular trunk, the most distinctive feature of elephants, is actually a greatly elongated  upper lip and nose used to convey grasses, leaves and water to the mouth. Present day Elephants consume as much as 225 kg. of forage a day in this manner and drink as much as 190 litres (30 gallons) of water, drawing it through their nostrils and squirting it into their mouth. An extremely versatile organ, the truck is also used to trumpet calls, pull down trees, rip off foliage and draw dust for dust bathing. It is also a highly sensitive organ, which the animals raise into the air to detect wind borne scents. By means of finger like lobes on the end of the trunk and by sucking action of the two nostrils, elephants can pick up and examine small objects.

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