Primelephas gomphotheroides is the type species of the extinct African elephantid genus Primelephas, described by Vincent Maglio in 1970. The specific name refers to the gomphothere-like look of the fossil specimens. The genus lived in Africa from the Late Miocene to the early Pliocene, roughly 7.2 to 4 million years ago, and its members kept permanent premolar teeth and low crowned teeth with few lamellae, unlike modern elephants. Some scholars think the genus holds only one valid species, in which case the earlier name Primelephas korotorensis has priority over this one.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Living or Extinct Conservation Status Body Size Band Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Primelephas (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Primelephas (Wikipedia)LeadQuote, Lead
with fossils having been found in Kenya, Ethiopia, Chad, Uganda and Tanzania
Sources
1. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Primelephas gomphotheroides
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, extant status
"is_extant": "extinct"
Taxon record, diet
"diet": "grazer, browser"
View the Source 2. Elephantidae - Wikipedia
Lead, kind of animalQuote, Lead, kind of animal
large terrestrial mammals with a snout modified into a trunk
3. Primelephas (Wikipedia)
Lead, extinct
is an extinct genus of primitive elephantid
Description
Analysis of humerus bones suggests that it reached a size comparable to living African bush elephants (Loxodonta africana).
Child Taxon Of: Primelephas, Species list
The type species, Primelephas gomphotheroides, was described by Vincent Maglio in 1970
In Group: Elephants And Relatives, Lead, kind of animal
is an extinct genus of primitive elephantid
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