Primelephas

Genus Primelephas, (meaning the first elephant), belonging to the family of elephants and regarded as both the present elephants ancestor. Primelephas was living some 5 million years ago in dense forests in Africa.

Caracteristics

Tusks in both upper and lower jaw

Increased number of molar ridges (capable of grinding up rough vegetation)

Trunk longer than Gomphoterium

Species

Primelephas gomphotheroides lived during middle Pliocene and split into three lineages, Loxodonta, Elephas, and Mammuthus.

Litterature

Systematic revision of Primelephas gomphotheroides (Mammalia: Elephantidae). Sanders, W.J., Mundinger, G.S., and Bloch, J. For Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.