What kind of animals are elephants?

Elephants are mammals.

More specifically, they belong to the order Proboscidea. This order is further divided into two families:

* Elephantidae: Includes the African bush elephant, African forest elephant, and Asian elephant.

* Mammutidae: This family is extinct and includes mammoths and mastodons.

So, while they are mammals, elephants are a distinct group within that category!