How many toes does an elephant have?

Elephants have five regular toes on each foot, and a sixth toe that is used to support the elephant's massive size. An elephant's toes are not visible. They are vertical and cause the elephant to walk on its tiptoes.

The elephant's feet are flat and have a large pad. The pad acts as a shock absorber and allows the elephant to walk quietly. Elephant legs are straighter than the legs of other animals, thus allowing the elephant to sleep while standing. Elephants walk long distances in the wild so elephants in zoos often need custom shoes to offset foot problems caused by inactivity.