On the Dissection of a Female Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus maxiums Linnaeus, 1758) and Data from Other Elephants

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Abstract
A 46-year old female Asian elephant (Elephas maximus maximus Linnaeus, 1758), named "Iki," died on July 8, 1980, at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Circus World, Haines City, Florida, USA. She was transported to Detroit and was dissected by the Elephant Interest Group (EIG) and friends, Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University. The purpose of this continuing study has been to collect data supplemental to that of previous workers, and to enrich knowledge of elephant anatomy, particularly in areas not thoroughly investigated in the past. Some of these findings were compared to those observed in other elephants: "Shirley", "Tulsa", and "Toose" and to the organs of "Ole Diamond" and "Hazel" (see Appendix II). Measurements and weights were taken and samples were collected, including 218 skin samples for histological studies. Most of the observations, not only on Iki but also on other elephants, correlate with those of previous workers. To our knowledge, some of the data collected on Elephas maximus in these dissections have not appeared in literature. Following is a list of the new anatomical and pathological findings: 1. The presence of the trachea-oesophageal muscle was noted in one (Shirley) of the four elephants examined (Iki, Shirley, Tulsa and Ole Diamond); this muscle was identified under the microscope as a striated or voluntary muscle. The trachea-oesophageal muscle was described by Harrison (1850a). Watson (1872a) and Miall and Greenwood (1878) searched for this muscle unsuccessfully. 2. The intercommunicating canals uniting the right and left nasal passages of the trunk and the associated fibrous arches were absent in Iki and Tulsa, the only two elephants examined for this structure. These arches and canals were described by Anthony and Coupin (1925). 3. The volume of the nasal passages of the embalmed trunk of Iki when filled with water was 2.19 liters, and the computed volume of the trunk of Tulsa (computed from measurements at cross sections soon after death) was 3.08 liters. These measurements were compared to the trunk water-holding capacity of three live elephants, large, medium, and small whose maximum capacities were 10.47, 4.18, and 3.57 liters, respectively (Appendix V). 4. The dry weights of the eye lenses of Iki, Shirley, Tulsa, and Toose were measured. Data obtained so far indicate that the older the elephant the heavier its eye lens is (Table VI). The dry weights of the eye lenses of known-aged Asian elephants will be used

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