ELEPHANTS AND THEIR FOSSIL RELATIVES

Today, only three species of elephants survive—the African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana), the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). However, these modern giants represent just a fraction of the vast and diverse order Proboscidea, which includes not only living elephants but also their many extinct relatives. Over the past 60 million years, proboscideans have evolved and adapted across five continents, giving rise to an astonishing variety of forms, from the massive, woolly-coated mammoths of the Ice Age to the diminutive, island-dwelling dwarf elephants.

This book offers a comprehensive exploration of proboscidean biology and evolutionary history, shedding light on the remarkable diversity of these extraordinary mammals. It delves into the anatomical characteristics of every known species, from the towering steppe mammoth (Mammuthus trogontherii) and the shovel-tusked Amebelodon to the semi-aquatic Moeritherium and the enigmatic Deinotherium. Readers will discover how these creatures developed an array of specialized adaptations, including variations in tusk shape and function, highly flexible trunks suited for different feeding strategies, and unique dental structures that allowed them to process a wide range of vegetation.