Elephant skin is wrinkled; African elephants have more wrinkles than Asian elephants. The skin of African elephants is its largest organ and can be up to 4 cm thick and weighs up to 900 kilograms. However, the skin is sensitive to touch, sensing insects and changes in the environment.
The wrinkles of elephant skin, which increase its surface area, function in cooling the animals. The wrinkles trap moisture, which then takes longer to evaporate. Therefore, wrinkles keep elephants cooler for longer, than if they had smooth skin.
Asian elephants have less skin wrinkles than African elephants; they primarily live in forests. There, the temperature is not extremely high, reducing the need to cool themselves extensively. In contrast, African elephants have to endure the high temperatures of the African savannah and forests.
In addition to absorbing water, the skin of elephants can also hold dust and mud. When an elephant takes a mud bath or sprays dirt on itself, it is protecting its skin from the sun and dangerous parasites.