How many muscles does an elephant's trunk contain?

An elephant's trunk is an extraordinary and complex structure that contains a remarkable number of muscles, estimated to be around 150,000. This extensive musculature allows for a vast range of movements and functions, making the trunk incredibly versatile. Elephants use their trunks for various tasks, including feeding, drinking, social interaction, and manipulation of objects.

The complexity of the trunk also reflects its evolutionary adaptation; its high number of muscles provides the fine motor control needed to perform delicate tasks, such as picking a single blade of grass or throwing mud for cooling and protection against insects. This evolutionary trait distinguishes the elephant's trunk as one of the most sophisticated appendages in the animal kingdom.

In contrast, the other options reflect overestimations of the muscle count, which do not align with current biological understanding. Thus, the choice of 150,000 muscles is supported by anatomical studies of elephant trunks, making it the correct answer.