Trunk Tip Wear in Wild African Savanna Elephants.

The anatomy and function of tactile structures, such as vibrissae, are typically studied in captive animals, but we know little about how tactile structures compare between captive and wild animals. We analyzed trunk tip morphology in wild (n = 6) and captive (n = 6) adult African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana). We found striking differences in both vibrissae and skin structure between the two groups.