Proboscidea
Encyclopedia
Proboscidea is a taxonomic
order
containing one living family
, Elephantidae
, and several extinct families. This order was first described by J. Illiger
in 1881 and encompasses the trunked mammals. Later proboscideans are distinguished by tusks and a long muscular trunk; these features are less developed or absent in early proboscideans.
The earliest known proboscidean is Eritherium
, followed by Phosphatherium
, a small animal about the size of a fox. These both date from late Paleocene
deposits of Morocco
.
Proboscideans diversified during the Eocene
and early Oligocene
. Several primitive families from these epochs have been described, including Numidotheriidae
, Moeritheriidae, and Barytheriidae in Africa, and Anthracobunidae
from the Indian subcontinent. These were followed by the earliest Deinotheriidae
or "hoe tuskers," which thrived during the Miocene
and into the early Quaternary
. Proboscideans from the Miocene also included Stegolophodon
, an early genus of the disputed family Stegodontidae
; the diverse family of Gomphotheriidae or "shovel tuskers," such as Platybelodon
and Amebelodon
; and the Mammutidae
, or mastodons.
Most families of Proboscidea are now extinct, many since the end of the last glacial period
. Recently extinct species include the last examples of gomphotheres in Central and South America, the American mastodon
of family Mammutidae in North America, numerous stegodon
ts once found in Asia, the last of the mammoth
s, and several island species of dwarf elephant
s.
The classification of proboscideans is unstable and frequently revised, and some relationships within the order remain unclear. The order is incompletely summarized as:
The last living proboscideans are the elephants, the only extant members of family Elephantidae. They may be summarized as follows:
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
containing one living family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
, Elephantidae
Elephantidae
Elephantidae is a taxonomic family, collectively elephants and mammoths. These are terrestrial large mammals with a trunk and tusks. Most genera and species in the family are extinct...
, and several extinct families. This order was first described by J. Illiger
Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger
Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger was a German entomologist and zoologist.Illiger was the son of a merchant in Brunswick. He studied under the entomologist Johann Hellwig, and later worked on the zoological collections of Johann Centurius Hoffmannsegg...
in 1881 and encompasses the trunked mammals. Later proboscideans are distinguished by tusks and a long muscular trunk; these features are less developed or absent in early proboscideans.
The earliest known proboscidean is Eritherium
Eritherium
Eritherium is an extinct genus of early Proboscidea found in Ouled Abdoun basin , Morocco. It was first named by Emmanuel Gheerbrant in 2009 and the type species is Eritherium azzouzorum. Eritherium is the oldest, smallest and most primitive known elephant relative....
, followed by Phosphatherium
Phosphatherium
Phosphatherium is an extinct genus of primitive proboscidean that lived during the Paleocene to early Eocene some 56 million years ago of North Africa....
, a small animal about the size of a fox. These both date from late Paleocene
Paleocene
The Paleocene or Palaeocene, the "early recent", is a geologic epoch that lasted from about . It is the first epoch of the Palaeogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era...
deposits of Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
.
Proboscideans diversified during the Eocene
Eocene
The Eocene Epoch, lasting from about 56 to 34 million years ago , is a major division of the geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Eocene spans the time from the end of the Palaeocene Epoch to the beginning of the Oligocene Epoch. The start of the...
and early Oligocene
Oligocene
The Oligocene is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene Period and extends from about 34 million to 23 million years before the present . As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period are well identified but the exact dates of the start and end of the period are slightly...
. Several primitive families from these epochs have been described, including Numidotheriidae
Numidotheriidae
Numidotheriidae is an extinct family of primitive proboscidean that lived from the late Paleocene to the early Eocene periods of North Africa....
, Moeritheriidae, and Barytheriidae in Africa, and Anthracobunidae
Anthracobunidae
Anthracobunidae is an extinct family of primitive proboscideans that lived in the early to middle Eocene period.They resemble the later Moeritheriidae in both size and cheek tooth morphology but lack their characteristic tusks. They are known only from fragmentary remains from Eocene deposits of...
from the Indian subcontinent. These were followed by the earliest Deinotheriidae
Deinotheriidae
Deinotheriidae is a family of prehistoric elephant-like proboscideans that lived during the Tertiary period, first appearing in Africa, then spreading across southern Asia and Europe. During that time they changed very little, apart from growing much larger in size - by the late Miocene they had...
or "hoe tuskers," which thrived during the Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
and into the early Quaternary
Quaternary
The Quaternary Period is the most recent of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era in the geologic time scale of the ICS. It follows the Neogene Period, spanning 2.588 ± 0.005 million years ago to the present...
. Proboscideans from the Miocene also included Stegolophodon
Stegolophodon
Stegolophodon is an extinct genus of proboscidean. Stegolophodon was a gomphothere with four tusks and a trunk. It lived in the Miocene and Pliocene Epochs, and may have evolved into Stegodon....
, an early genus of the disputed family Stegodontidae
Stegodontidae
Stegodontidae is an extinct family of proboscideans that lived from the Miocene through Pleistocene period endemic to Africa and Asia from 23.03 to 1.810 Ma, living for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
; the diverse family of Gomphotheriidae or "shovel tuskers," such as Platybelodon
Platybelodon
Platybelodon was a genus of large herbivorous mammal related to the elephant . It lived during the Miocene Epoch, about 15-4 million years ago, and ranged over Africa, Europe, Asia and North America...
and Amebelodon
Amebelodon
Amebelodon is a member of a diverse group of primitive proboscideans called gomphotheres, a group that also gave rise to the modern elephants and their close relative the mammoth. The most striking attribute of this animal is its lower tusks, which are narrow, elongated,and distinctly flattened...
; and the Mammutidae
Mammutidae
Mammutidae is a family of extinct proboscideans that lived between the Miocene to the Pleistocene or Holocene. The family was first described in 1922, classifying fossil specimens of the type genus Mammut , and has since been placed in various arrangements of the order...
, or mastodons.
Most families of Proboscidea are now extinct, many since the end of the last glacial period
Glacial period
A glacial period is an interval of time within an ice age that is marked by colder temperatures and glacier advances. Interglacials, on the other hand, are periods of warmer climate within an ice age...
. Recently extinct species include the last examples of gomphotheres in Central and South America, the American mastodon
American mastodon
The American mastodon is an extinct North American proboscidean that lived from about 3.7 million years ago until about 10,000 BC. It was the last surviving member of the mastodon family. Fossil finds range from present-day Alaska and New England in the north, to Florida, southern...
of family Mammutidae in North America, numerous stegodon
Stegodon
Stegodon , is a genus of the extinct subfamily Stegodontinae of the order Proboscidea. It was assigned to the family Elephantidae , but has also been placed in Stegodontidae . Stegodonts were present from 11.6 mya to 4,100 years ago...
ts once found in Asia, the last of the mammoth
Mammoth
A mammoth is any species of the extinct genus Mammuthus. These proboscideans are members of Elephantidae, the family of elephants and mammoths, and close relatives of modern elephants. They were often equipped with long curved tusks and, in northern species, a covering of long hair...
s, and several island species of dwarf elephant
Dwarf elephant
Dwarf elephants are prehistoric members of the order Proboscidea, that, through the process of allopatric speciation, evolved to a fraction of the size of their immediate ancestors...
s.
The classification of proboscideans is unstable and frequently revised, and some relationships within the order remain unclear. The order is incompletely summarized as:
- Elephantimorpha (Proboscidea)
-
- †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
AnthracobunidaeAnthracobunidaeAnthracobunidae is an extinct family of primitive proboscideans that lived in the early to middle Eocene period.They resemble the later Moeritheriidae in both size and cheek tooth morphology but lack their characteristic tusks. They are known only from fragmentary remains from Eocene deposits of...
- †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
AnthracobuneAnthracobuneAnthracobune is an extinct genus of an early proboscidean from the middle Eocene of the Upper Kuldana Formation of Kohat, Punjab Province, Pakistan.... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
HsanotheriumHsanotheriumHsanotherium is an extinct genus of early proboscidean from the middle Eocene, described in 2000 in the Pondaung Formation, Myanmar.It is the first anthracobunid to be discovered outside India and Pakistan and to date is the smallest member of the family.- References :* DUCROCQ S.; AUNG NAING SOE;... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
IndobuneIndobuneIndobune is an extinct genus of proboscidea, family Anthracobunidae, endemic to Asia during the Eocene from 55.8—48.6 Ma, living for approximately .-Taxonomy:... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
IshatheriumIshatheriumIshatherium is an extinct genus of early proboscidean from the early Eocene of the Subathu formation in Northwestern India.It is only known from a partial upper molar and was formally classified as a sirenian.- References :... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
JozariaJozariaJozaria is an extinct genus of an early proboscidean from the Early to Middle Eocene of the Kuldana Formation of Kohat, Pakistan.Only one specimen belonging to the species Jozaria palustris has been discovered so far. Geological evidences from the place of discovery indicate that the animal lived... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
LammidhaniaLammidhaniaLammidhania is an extinct genus of an early proboscidean, elephant-like mammals, from the early to middle Eocene, discovered in 1940 in the Chorlakki locality of the Punjab province, Pakistan.... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
NakusiaNakusiaNakusia is an extinct genus of early proboscidean from the early Eocene Epoch, described in 1999 in the Ghazij formation of Baluchistan, Pakistan.- References :... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
PilgrimellaPilgrimellaPilgrimella is an extinct genus of anthracobunid , ground dwelling grazer with massive molar cusps aligned in two transverse ridges. Remains of this animal have been found in the Chorlakki locality, Punjab province, Pakistan as well as in the Subathu formation in North-West India...
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- †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
Moeritheriidae- †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
MoeritheriumMoeritherium is a genus consisting of several species. These prehistoric mammals are related to the elephant and, more distantly, the sea cow... - †
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- †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
NumidotheriidaeNumidotheriidaeNumidotheriidae is an extinct family of primitive proboscidean that lived from the late Paleocene to the early Eocene periods of North Africa....
- †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
NumidotheriumNumidotheriumNumidotherium is an extinct genus of early proboscidean discovered in 1984, that lived during the middle Eocene some 46 million years ago of North Africa, weight 200 kilograms....
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- †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
Barytheriidae- †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
BarytheriumBarytheriumBarytherium is a genus of an extinct family of primitive proboscidean that lived during the late Eocene and early Oligocene in North Africa...
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- †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
DeinotheriidaeDeinotheriidaeDeinotheriidae is a family of prehistoric elephant-like proboscideans that lived during the Tertiary period, first appearing in Africa, then spreading across southern Asia and Europe. During that time they changed very little, apart from growing much larger in size - by the late Miocene they had...
- †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
ChilgatheriumChilgatheriumChilgatherium is the earliest and most primitive representative of the family Deinotheriidae. It is known from late Oligocene fossil teeth found in the Ethiopian district of Chilga... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
ProdeinotheriumProdeinotheriumProdeinotherium is an early representative of the family Deinotheriidae, that lived in Africa, Europe, and Asia in the early and middle Miocene. It was the size of a small elephant, about 9 feet at the shoulders, but differed from elephants in possessing a pair of downward curving tusks on the... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
DeinotheriumDeinotheriumDeinotherium , also called the Hoe tusker, was a large prehistoric relative of modern-day elephants that appeared in the Middle Miocene and continued until the Early Pleistocene. During that time it changed very little...
- †
- †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
StegodontidaeStegodontidaeStegodontidae is an extinct family of proboscideans that lived from the Miocene through Pleistocene period endemic to Africa and Asia from 23.03 to 1.810 Ma, living for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
- †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
StegodonStegodonStegodon , is a genus of the extinct subfamily Stegodontinae of the order Proboscidea. It was assigned to the family Elephantidae , but has also been placed in Stegodontidae . Stegodonts were present from 11.6 mya to 4,100 years ago... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
StegolophodonStegolophodonStegolophodon is an extinct genus of proboscidean. Stegolophodon was a gomphothere with four tusks and a trunk. It lived in the Miocene and Pliocene Epochs, and may have evolved into Stegodon....
- †
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- †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
Mammutida- †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
MammutidaeMammutidaeMammutidae is a family of extinct proboscideans that lived between the Miocene to the Pleistocene or Holocene. The family was first described in 1922, classifying fossil specimens of the type genus Mammut , and has since been placed in various arrangements of the order...
(mastodons)- †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
Mammut - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
ZygolophodonZygolophodonZygolophodon is an extinct genus of African, Asian, North American, and European mastodon that lived during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs. It may have evolved from Tetralophodon. While collecting fossils in the Clarno Formation of Oregon during 1941, noted paleobotanists Alonzo W. Hancock and...
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- †
- Elephantida
- ElephantidaeElephantidaeElephantidae is a taxonomic family, collectively elephants and mammoths. These are terrestrial large mammals with a trunk and tusks. Most genera and species in the family are extinct...
(elephants and mammoths)- †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
PrimelephasPrimelephasPrimelephas is a genus of Elephantidae that existed during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs. The name of the genus suggests 'first elephant'... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
Mammuthus - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
StegodonStegodonStegodon , is a genus of the extinct subfamily Stegodontinae of the order Proboscidea. It was assigned to the family Elephantidae , but has also been placed in Stegodontidae . Stegodonts were present from 11.6 mya to 4,100 years ago... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
StegolophodonStegolophodonStegolophodon is an extinct genus of proboscidean. Stegolophodon was a gomphothere with four tusks and a trunk. It lived in the Miocene and Pliocene Epochs, and may have evolved into Stegodon.... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
StegotetrabelodonStegotetrabelodonStegotetrabelodon is an extinct genus of elephant or gomphothere from the Miocene.-References:*Mammoths: Giants of the Ice Age by Adrian Lister; Paul G. Bahn*Classification of Mammals by Malcolm C. McKenna and Susan K. Bell... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
Stegodibelodon - LoxodontaLoxodontaAfrican elephants are the species of elephants in the genus Loxodonta , one of the two existing genera in Elephantidae. Although it is commonly believed that the genus was named by Georges Cuvier in 1825, Cuvier spelled it Loxodonte...
- ElephasElephasElephas is one of two surviving genera in the order of elephants, Proboscidea. The genus has one surviving species, the Asian elephant Elephas maximus....
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- †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
Gomphotheriidae (gomphotheres)- †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
PlatybelodonPlatybelodonPlatybelodon was a genus of large herbivorous mammal related to the elephant . It lived during the Miocene Epoch, about 15-4 million years ago, and ranged over Africa, Europe, Asia and North America... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
EubelodonEubelodonEubelodon morrilli is an extinct genus of a North American proboscidean. This gomphothere had a trunk and tusks. It lived during the Miocene Epoch. It may have evolved from Platybelodon.-Fossil distribution:... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
CuvieroniusCuvieroniusCuvieronius is an extinct New World genus of gomphothere. It is named after the French naturalist Georges Cuvier, stood 2.7 m tall and looked like a modern elephant except for its spiral-shaped tusks.-Origin:... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
GomphotheriumGomphotheriumGomphotherium is an extinct genus of proboscid which evolved in the Early Miocene of North America from 13.650—3.6 Ma, living about .The genus emigrated into Asia, Europe and Africa after a drop in sea level allowed them to cross over... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
HaplomastodonHaplomastodonHaplomastodon is an extinct genus of proboscidea endemic to South America during the Pleistocene from 1.810 Ma—11,000 years ago, living for approximately .It had two tusks on either side of a trunk like other members of Gomphotheriidae... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
MorrilliaMorrilliaMorrillia is an extinct genus of proboscidea, family Gomphotheriidae, endemic to North America during the Pleistocene epoch from 1.810 Ma—300,000 years ago, living for approximately .... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
NotiomastodonNotiomastodonNotiomastodon is an extinct genus of proboscidea endemic to South America during the Pleistocene from 1.810 Ma—780,000 years ago, living for approximately .... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
PhiomiaPhiomiaPhiomia is an extinct genus of basal proboscid that lived in what is now Northern Africa during the Late Eocene to Early Oligocene some 36-35 million years ago. "Phiomia serridens" means "saw-toothed animal of Faiyum".... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
SinomastodonSinomastodonSinomastodon is an extinct gomphothere genus , from the Late Miocene to the Early Pleistocene deposits of south-east Asia... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
RhynchotheriumRhynchotheriumRhynchotherium is an extinct genus of proboscidea endemic to North America and Central America during the Miocene through Pliocene from 13.650—3.6 Ma, living for approximately .This gomphothere had two tusks and may have evolved from Gomphotherium.... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
SerbelodonSerbelodonSerbelodon is an extinct genus of African and European Proboscidean. It was a gomphothere "shovel-tusker." It had tusks and a trunk. It lived during the Miocene Epoch, and may have evolved from Amebelodon.... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
StegomastodonStegomastodonStegomastodon is an extinct genus of gomphothere, a family of proboscideans. It is not to be confused with the genus Mammut from a different proboscidean family, whose members are commonly called "mastodons", nor with the genus Stegodon, from yet another proboscidean sub-family, whose members are... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
StegotetrabelodonStegotetrabelodonStegotetrabelodon is an extinct genus of elephant or gomphothere from the Miocene.-References:*Mammoths: Giants of the Ice Age by Adrian Lister; Paul G. Bahn*Classification of Mammals by Malcolm C. McKenna and Susan K. Bell... - †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
TetralophodonTetralophodonTetralophodon is an extinct gomphothere genus . Like typical gomphotheres, Tetralophodon had four tusks and a trunk. This genus of animals stood about ten feet tall and was a very widespread and successful proboscidean. Tetralophodon lived through the Miocene and Pliocene epoches...
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- incertae sedisIncertae sedis, is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Uncertainty at specific taxonomic levels is attributed by , , and similar terms.-Examples:*The fossil plant Paradinandra suecica could not be assigned to any...
- †ExtinctionIn biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
Eritreum
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- Elephantidae
The last living proboscideans are the elephants, the only extant members of family Elephantidae. They may be summarized as follows:
- Elephantidae
- ElephasElephasElephas is one of two surviving genera in the order of elephants, Proboscidea. The genus has one surviving species, the Asian elephant Elephas maximus....
(Asiatic)- Elephas maximus (Asian Elephant)
- Elephas maximus maximusSri Lankan ElephantThe Sri Lankan Elephant is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian Elephant, and native to Sri Lanka. Since 1986, Elephas maximus has been listed as endangered by IUCN as the population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations, estimated to be 60–75 years...
(Sri Lankan Elephant) - Elephas maximus borneensisBorneo ElephantThe Borneo Elephant also called the Borneo Pygmy Elephant inhabits northeastern Borneo. Its origin remains the subject of debate. A definitive subspecific classification as Elephas maximus borneensis awaits a detailed range-wide morphometric and genetic study...
(Borneo Elephant) - Elephas maximus indicus (Indian Elephant)
- Elephas maximus sumatranus (Sumatran Elephant)
- Elephas maximus maximus
- Elephas maximus (Asian Elephant)
- Elephas
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- LoxodontaLoxodontaAfrican elephants are the species of elephants in the genus Loxodonta , one of the two existing genera in Elephantidae. Although it is commonly believed that the genus was named by Georges Cuvier in 1825, Cuvier spelled it Loxodonte...
(African)- Loxodonta africana (Bush Elephant)
- Loxodonta cyclotis (Forest Elephant)
- Loxodonta