The functional significance of movements and positions of the pinnae of the African Elephant, Loxodonta africana

Observations of wild African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Uganda indicated that flapping and spreading the highly vascularized ears are probably important functions for heat dissipation. Ear flapping increased as ambient temperatures rose and decreased or ceased during cold or rainy weather. Rate of ear flapping was inversely related to wind velocity. Spreading the ears reduced ear flapping, particularly when an elephant faced downwind. Stimuli that elicited alertness, excitement, or hostility caused elephants to raise their heads and spread their ears widely and rigidly, and large elephants occasionally flapped their ears loudly and sharply. Flapping and spreading the ears for heat dissipation are generally not interpreted as danger signals by other elephants.