Primelephas

Primelephas
Temporal range: Late Miocene - Pliocene
Reconstruction of Primelephas
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Proboscidea
Family: Elephantidae
Subfamily: Elephantinae
Genus: †Primelephas
Maglio, 1970
Type species
†Primelephas gomphotheroides
Maglio, 1970
Species
  • †Primelephas gomphotheroides Maglio, 1970
  • †Primelephas korotorensis (Coppens, 1965)

Primelephas is a genus of Elephantinae[1] that existed during the Miocene and Pliocene epochs. The name of the genus suggests 'first elephant'. These primitive elephantids are thought to be the common ancestor of Mammuthus, the mammoths, and the closely allied genera Elephas and Loxodonta, the Asian and African elephants, diverging some 4-6 million years ago.[2] It had four tusks, which is a trait not shared with its descendants, but common in earlier proboscideans. The type species, Primelephas gomphotheroides, was described by Vincent Maglio in 1970, with the specific epithet indicating the fossil specimens were gomphothere-like. Primelephas korotorensis is the only other species to be assigned to the genus. All fossils found of the Primelephas have been found in Africa, primarily in modern day Chad, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda.

References

  1. ^ Shoshani, J.; Ferretti, M. P.; Lister, A. M.; Agenbroad, L. D.; Saegusa, H.; Mol, D.; Takahashi, K. (2007). "Relationships within the Elephantinae using hyoid characters". Quaternary International. 169–170: 174–185. Bibcode:2007QuInt.169..174S. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2007.02.003.
  2. ^ Thomas MG, Hagelberg E, Jone HB, Yang Z, Lister AM (December 2000). "Molecular and morphological evidence on the phylogeny of the Elephantidae". Proc. Biol. Sci. 267 (1461): 2493–500. doi:10.1098/rspb.2000.1310. PMC 1690853. PMID 11197124.


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