How much water can an adult Asian elephant's trunk hold?

An adult Asian elephant’s trunk can hold about 8.5 liters of water.

The trunk is a remarkable combination of nose and upper lip, formed from thousands of muscles rather than bones. An elephant draws water partway into the trunk, then curls the trunk toward its mouth and blows or pours the water in. It does not drink through the trunk like a straw.

The trunk also serves as a hand for grasping food, stripping leaves, touching other elephants and exploring unfamiliar objects. Asian elephants have one finger-like projection at the tip of the trunk, while African elephants have two.

A trunkful is only one part of an elephant’s daily water needs. Asian elephants may drink roughly 80–200 liters per day, depending on body size, temperature, diet and activity. The 8.5-liter figure describes the trunk’s temporary capacity, not the animal’s total daily consumption.