Which animal has the longest nose? You will definitely say unequivocally, it is an elephant! Yes, some long-nosed animals in nature: such as Malayan tapirs, saiga antelopes, elephant seals, proboscis monkeys, etc., their trunks are only 10 to 30 centimeters long at most, compared with the 2 to 3 meters long trunk of elephants. , It’s so pitiful that a small witch can see a big witch. If so, what is the use of an animal’s nose? You will definitely be the first to answer, use it for breathing and smelling! Yes, it is quite common for animals to use their trunks to do this "industry". However, the elephant's trunk is not only a respiratory and olfactory organ, it also has a tactile function. It can also be used to ingest food, drink water, carry objects, and attack. It is even used to communicate feelings and transmit information between individuals! After training, elephants can also hold the harmonica with their trunks and play tunes. It is no exaggeration to say that the elephant's trunk is worthy of its own universal tool, with multiple functions. Elephants often raise their long trunks and swing them in the air. They can smell smells hundreds of meters away or even further. They can also judge whether there is danger. Once danger is detected, they will either run away against the wind or rush forward. , fight to the death. It’s not an exaggeration to say that an elephant’s trunk is as flexible as a human hand. By extending its nose, it can easily pluck the fruits, branches and leaves off the trees, then roll it back into its nose and put it into its mouth. If it wants to eat grass on the ground, when it uproots it, it will pat the soil off its legs and then bring it back to the mouth. It eats in its mouth; it can also use its nose to taste whether there is delicious food. The elephant's trunk is also used to absorb water. When an elephant is thirsty, he sticks his trunk into the river and sucks up the water. It's like a small water pump. After a while, it drinks enough. In this regard, some people may be very suspicious. The elephant trunk is mainly used for breathing. When drinking water with it, won't the water choke into the lungs? In fact, this worry is unnecessary. It turns out that there is a special piece of cartilage behind the elephant's nasal cavity and above the esophagus, which acts like a "valve." When sucking water, the muscles in the throat contract and the "valve" closes, allowing water to enter the esophagus smoothly without entering the trachea. After drinking water, spray out the remaining water in the nose. At this time, the "valve" will automatically open and breathing can proceed normally. This ingenious structure is really wonderful! Elephants cannot live without water. On hot days, they have to suck up enough water through their noses and then spray it all over their bodies. This is a bathing machine that is more convenient than a shower. At the same time, elephants often smear mud or sand on their bodies with their trunks to prevent mosquito bites and protect their skin. The end of the elephant's trunk is protruding, which is rich in nerve cells. It is very sensitive to touch and can pick up iron nails or small needles dropped on the ground. The elephant's trunk is also a weapon of self-defense. It is easy for an elephant to deal with those small and weak beasts. Even if it encounters a fierce beast, it is not afraid. It waves its trunk and slaps the opponent, then rolls it up and throws it into the air, falling half to death. Who would dare to fight against an opponent who has been taught a lesson? What about challenging it? Elephants can also use their trunks to help people carry things. A tamed elephant can easily roll up trees or goods weighing hundreds of kilograms, and one elephant is worth the labor of 20 to 30 people. There are "elephant schools" in Myanmar and Thailand. After elephants graduate, they are assigned to work as "porters" in deep mountains and forests. Is the elephant's trunk afraid of mice? In the past, there was a rumor that an elephant was afraid that a mouse would get into its trunk and make it unable to breathe. In fact, this is completely false. The British zoologist Gerzik did the following experiment: He placed a mouse near an elephant. The elephant immediately approached the mouse and extended its trunk, but the mouse tried its best to escape, even if the mouse really got into the elephant. The elephant can throw it out of its trunk and kill it. So, why does the elephant's trunk have such strange functions? It turns out that its long nose is composed of nearly 40,000 small elastic muscles. It can stretch and contract with great flexibility and make dexterous movements. It has millions of nerve endings, and one (Asian elephant) or two (African elephant) finger-like protrusions at the end of its nose. It has two functions: the tongue tastes and the nose smells. Due to the unique structure of the elephant trunk, it has unique functions and is easy to use. Why is the elephant's trunk so long? This is the result of elephants adapting to the environment and evolving over a long period of time.
It turns out that the trunks and stature of the ancestors of elephants were not as big as they are now. Later, due to adaptation to the living environment, the body gradually grew taller and the limbs became longer and longer. In order to feed from the ground, in the long-term struggle for survival, the elephant's upper lip gradually lengthened, and its nose was above the upper lip, so it naturally also gradually lengthened, making it easier to feed and pick up things. The strong protrusion at the end of the elephant's trunk is the mark of the upper lip. You see, the elephant’s trunk is a versatile tool!
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