Palaeoloxodon

Palaeoloxodon

Palaeoloxodon is an extinct genus of elephant. The genus originated in Africa during the Pliocene era, and expanded into Eurasia during the Pleistocene era.

The genus contains some of the largest known elephants, over 4 metres (13 ft) tall at the shoulders, including the European straight-tusked elephant (Palaeoloxodon antiquus), and the southern Asian Palaeoloxodon namadicus. P namadicus was largest known land mammal.^[1]

The genus also contains species of dwarf elephants which evolved by insular dwarfism on islands in the Mediterranean, some only 1 metre (3.3 ft) in height, the smallest elephants known.

Palaeoloxodon Media

Life restoration of P. namadicus
Skeleton of Palaeoloxodon antiquus
Partial skull of Palaeoloxodon namadicus, showing the parieto-occipital crest at the top of the skull
Third molar teeth of Palaeoloxodon huaihoensis
Size comparison of the dwarf elephant Palaeoloxodon falconeri, one of the smallest elephants known
Skeleton of Palaeoloxodon recki, the earliest species of Palaeoloxodon

References

↑ Larramendi, A. (2015). "Shoulder height, body mass and shape of proboscideans" (PDF). Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 60. doi:10.4202/app.00136.2014.

[probos_mass-1] Larramendi, A. (2015). "Shoulder height, body mass and shape of proboscideans" (PDF). Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 60. doi:10.4202/app.00136.2014.

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