An elephant's heart can weigh up to 46 pounds and beats only 30 times per minute.

The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) possesses one of the most unique cardiovascular systems in the animal kingdom. A mature elephant's heart typically weighs between 26 and 46 pounds (12 to 21 kilograms), accounting for about 0.5% of its total body mass. This organ is characterized by a unique 'bifid' apex, meaning it has two points at the bottom rather than the single point found in human hearts.According to research published in 'The Journal of Experimental Biology,' there is an inverse relationship between body mass and heart rate known as Kleiber's Law. While a shrew's heart beats 1,000 times per minute, an elephant's resting heart rate averages just 25 to 30 beats per minute. When standing, the heart must generate enough pressure to pump blood nearly 6 feet upward to reach the brain.To manage this, elephants have highly developed thick-walled arteries and a specialized connective tissue called 'pleura' that helps regulate internal pressure. This slow but powerful rhythm is incredibly efficient, moving approximately 50 liters of blood throughout the body with every single contraction. This low heart rate is a key factor in the elephant's long lifespan, which can reach 60 to 70 years in the wild.