Here are five simple rephrasings, each 1–2 words shorter:
- The elephant, the largest land animal, uses its trunk like a hand.
- Elephants are the largest land animals and use their trunks like hands.
- The elephant, the biggest of land animals, uses its trunk like a hand.
- Elephants are the largest land animals; each uses its trunk like a hand.
- An elephant is the largest land animal; its trunk works like a hand.