While the term "hoof" is often used to describe the hard, keratinous covering on the bottom of the feet of horses, the African Elephant's feet are actually more accurately described as having "pads" rather than hooves. These pads are made up of thick, tough skin and are much larger than the hooves of any other animal.
Here's why the African Elephant wins this title:
* Size: Adult African Elephants can weigh up to 13,000 pounds and stand up to 13 feet tall at the shoulder. Their size dictates the need for large, robust feet to support their immense weight.
* Pad Size: The pads on an African Elephant's feet can measure over a foot across. These pads help distribute the elephant's weight evenly, preventing damage to the ground.
* No Hooves: While often referred to as hooves, the African Elephant's foot structure is more similar to that of other large mammals like rhinoceroses, with a thick pad of skin instead of a hard, keratinized hoof.
While other animals like horses and rhinoceroses have large hooves, they don't come close to the sheer size of an African Elephant's foot pads.