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
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|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Proboscidea |
| Family: | Elephantidae |
| Genus: | Elephas |
| Species: | †E. platycephalus
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| Binomial name | |
| †Elephas platycephalus Osborn, 1929
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| Synonyms | |
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Platelephas platycephalus | |
Taxonomy edit
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 edit
- ^ 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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