<P> L. cyclotis L. exoptata † </P> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Distribution of Loxodonta (2007) </Td> </Tr> <P> African elephants are elephants of the genus Loxodonta, from Greek λοξός (loxós' slanting, crosswise, oblique sided') + ὀδούς (odoús, stem odónt -,' tooth'). The genus consists of two extant species: the African bush elephant, L. africana, and the smaller African forest elephant, L. cyclotis . Loxodonta is one of two existing genera of the family Elephantidae . Fossil remains of Loxodonta have been found only in Africa, in strata as old as the middle Pliocene . However, sequence analysis of DNA extracted from fossils of an extinct elephant species undermines the validity of the genus . </P> <P> One species of African elephant, the bush elephant, is the largest living terrestrial animal, while the forest elephant is the third - largest . Their thickset bodies rest on stocky legs, and they have concave backs . Their large ears enable heat loss . The upper lip and nose form a trunk . The trunk acts as a fifth limb, a sound amplifier, and an important method of touch . African elephants' trunks end in two opposing lips, whereas the Asian elephant trunk ends in a single lip . In L. africana, males stand 3.2--4.0 m (10--13 ft) tall at the shoulder and weigh 4,700--6,048 kg (10,360--13,330 lb), while females stand 2.2--2.6 m (7--9 ft) tall and weigh 2,160--3,232 kg (4,762--7,125 lb); L. cyclotis is smaller with male shoulder heights of up to 2.5 m (8 ft). The largest recorded individual stood 4 m (13.1 ft) at the shoulders and weighed 10 tonnes (10 long tons; 11 short tons). </P>

The scientific name for the african elephant is loxodonta africana. what is the species name