Elephas platycephalus
Elephas platycephalus is an extinct species of large herbivorous mammals that were closely related to Asian elephants. It lived between 130,000 and 700,000 years ago during the Middle Pleistocene epoch.[1] Fossils have been found in the upper Sivalik Hills.[2]
| Elephas platycephalus Temporal range: Middle Pleistocene | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Proboscidea |
| Family: | Elephantidae |
| Genus: | Elephas |
| Species: | †E. platycephalus |
| Binomial name | |
| †Elephas platycephalus Osborn, 1929 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Platelephas platycephalus | |
Taxonomy
Author and researcher Vincent Maglio suspected that another species, Mammuthus meridionalis (syn. Elephas planifrons), was a direct ancestor of E. platycephalus since both of the species appear quite similar. However, upon closely studying the fronto-parietal region of the skull as well as upper molars of the specimens belonging to both species, it was concluded that the two species differed radically.[3]
References
- Paul S. Martin, Richard G. Klein (1989). Quaternary Extinctions: A Prehistoric Revolution. University of Arizona Press. p. 91. ISBN 9780816511006.
- Xiaoming Wang (2013). Fossil Mammals of Asia: Neogene Biostratigraphy and Chronology. Columbia University Press. p. 433. ISBN 9780231520829.
- Avinash Nanda (2002). "Skull characteristics of two proboscideans from the Upper Siwalik Subgroup of Nepal". Neues Jahrbuch fur Geologie und Palaontologie - Abhandlungen: 22.
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