An elephant’s trunk is one of nature’s most extraordinary tools. It is strong enough to lift heavy logs, yet gentle enough to pick up a single delicate leaf or even a potato chip without crushing it.

Scientists have found that the trunk’s dexterity is due to around 90,000 tiny muscle bundles, making it one of the most versatile appendages in the animal kingdom. The tip of the trunk, particularly, is a marvel of evolutionary adaptation, allowing these majestic creatures to interact with their environment in astonishing ways.