Elephantidae is the family of elephants, order Proboscidea, containing the genus Loxodonta, the African elephants, and the genus Elephas, the Asian elephant, the only two genera with living members today. The family also contained the now-extinct mammoths, genus Mammuthus, and several other extinct genera known from the Pliocene and Pleistocene fossil record. Elephants are the largest living land animals, distinguished by a muscular trunk, long tusks, and large ears used for thermoregulation.
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Scientific Name Member Species/Taxa Count Geographic DistributionElephantid genera Elephas and Mammuthus dispersed out of Africa during the late Pliocene, about 3.6 to 3.2 million years ago; living members occur in Africa (Loxodonta) and Asia (Elephas) 1 Defining CharacteristicsDistinguished from more basal proboscideans such as gomphotheres by teeth with parallel lophs 1 Member Count Band Era First Appeared Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceLarge terrestrial mammals with a snout modified into a trunk and teeth modified into tusks 1 Classification
Living or Extinct Elephantidae
Filter Results1 entry
Connections
Parent Taxon Of
Source Elephantidae - Wikipedia
Source Elephantidae - Wikipedia
Source Phanagoroloxodon (Wikipedia)
Source Primelephas (Wikipedia)
Source Selenetherium (Wikipedia)
Source Stegodibelodon (Wikipedia)
Source Stegoloxodon (Wikipedia)
Source Stegotetrabelodon (Wikipedia)
Source Wikidata: Steppe Mammoth
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Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Elephantidae - Wikipedia
Lead sentence
Elephantidae is a family of large, herbivorous proboscidean mammals
Lead sentence, family name clause
Elephantidae is a family of large, herbivorous proboscidean mammals
Lead paragraph, living genera clause
living elephants (belonging to the genera Elephas and Loxodonta)
Evolutionary history section
The elephantid genera Elephas (which includes the living Asian elephant) and Mammuthus (mammoths) migrated out of Africa during the late Pliocene, around 3.6 to 3.2 million years ago.
Description section
Elephantids are distinguished from more basal proboscideans like gomphotheres by their teeth, which have parallel lophs
Lead paragraph, description clause
Large terrestrial mammals with a snout modified into a trunk and teeth modified into tusks.
Parent Taxon Of: Mammuthus, Lead
as well as a number of extinct genera like Mammuthus (mammoths) and Palaeoloxodon
Parent Taxon Of: Palaeoloxodon, Lead
as well as a number of extinct genera like Mammuthus (mammoths) and Palaeoloxodon
View the Source2. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ2372824, descriptionView the Source 3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for Elephantidae
Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCountQuote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
"speciesExtantCount": 3
4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Elephantidae
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
"taxon_name": "Elephantidae" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 23.04 ... "early_interval": "Aquitanian"
Wikidata: Elephantidae
Wikidata Q2372824, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Wikidata: Steppe Mammoth
Parent Taxon Of: Steppe Mammoth, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Stegotetrabelodon (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Stegotetrabelodon, Lead, familyQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Stegotetrabelodon, Lead, family
is an extinct genus of primitive elephantids
Primelephas (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Primelephas, Lead, familyQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Primelephas, Lead, family
is an extinct genus of primitive elephantid
Stegoloxodon (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Stegoloxodon, Lead, familyQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Stegoloxodon, Lead, family
is an extinct genus of dwarf elephant
Phanagoroloxodon (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Phanagoroloxodon, Lead, familyQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Phanagoroloxodon, Lead, family
is a genus of extinct elephant
Stegodibelodon (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Stegodibelodon, Lead, familyQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Stegodibelodon, Lead, family
is an extinct genus of primitive elephantid
Selenetherium (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Selenetherium, Lead, familyQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Selenetherium, Lead, family
is an extinct genus of elephantid proboscidean
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