The Order Proboscidea comprises large, herbivorous mammals best known as elephants. Characterized by a long, muscular trunk, tusks, and large, pillar-like legs, these animals are adapted for feeding on a variety of vegetation, including leaves, bark, and fruit. Proboscideans are highly social, living in matriarchal herds with complex communication, strong memory, and cooperative behaviors. Historically widespread, today they are confined to parts of Africa and Asia and face threats from habitat loss and poaching. They play a vital ecological role by shaping vegetation and dispersing seeds, making them keystone species in their ecosystems.