Sri Lankan elephant

American  

[sree lahng-kuhn el uh-fuhnt, lang-kuhn, shree] / ˌsri ˈlɑŋ kən ˈɛl ə fənt, ˈlæŋ kən, ˌʃri /

noun

1. the largest Asian elephant subspecies (Elephas maximus maximus ), native to Sri Lanka and classified as endangered: compared to its related subspecies, it has darker skin, with greater areas of depigmentation, and is more likely to belong to a herd in which tuskless males are common.

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Etymology

Origin of Sri Lankan elephant

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

Since the turn of the century, Sri Lankan elephant populations have fallen by almost 65 percent thanks to an increase in deforestation on the island.

From National Geographic

The Sri Lankan elephant is one of three subspecies of Asian elephant and is found only on the teardrop-shaped Indian Ocean island.

From Seattle Times

“And then, of course, since I am built like a Sri Lankan elephant, I starve until lunch,” he says.

From Washington Post