But how big is it really?

Estimating body size in large wild animals can be challenging to say the least, but this information is crucial in studies of life-history and fitness. Where direct measures of body mass are unavailable, indirect measures can be crucial for obtaining reasonable estimates of body size. But how well do these indirect measures predict actual body size when it is known?

Our recent paper published in PLoS one by Simon and co. looks at just this in Asian elephants. Using alternative body measures such as height and chest girth, new formulas were derived that successfully predict body weight with greater accuracy than most previously available estimation equations. Additionally, we found that using standardised photographs to estimate body height and chest girth with minor adjustments accurately mirrored actual values.

This work will make life just that little bit easier when estimating body size in Asian elephants!