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Adult female elephants have two breasts, or mammary glands, located between their front legs. When a female becomes pregnant or is nursing her young, her mammary glands become more prominent. (reddthat.com)

submitted 3 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 28 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I suppose it's interesting because we assume that most mammals have their mamary glands further down, like dogs or cats, not on the torso like humans do.

[–] SchmidtGenetics 5 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

Don’t most start at the torso? Cats and dogs have large litters, so 8(?) nipples starting at the ribs going down.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I think a lot of people base their assumptions on the way cows, goats, sheep and deer have their mammaries positioned between the waist and the rear legs.

(Waist? Seems wrong but midline is also confusing.)

Those also have hooves, and elephants don't, but it's the animals we're used to seeing nurse.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

Maybe you're right and it's just a commonly accepted misconception