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
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Proboscidea
Family: Elephantidae
Genus: Elephas
Species:
E. platycephalus
Binomial name
Elephas platycephalus
Osborn, 1929
Synonyms

Platelephas platycephalus

Taxonomy

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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

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  1. ^ Paul S. Martin, Richard G. Klein (1989). Quaternary Extinctions: A Prehistoric Revolution. University of Arizona Press. p. 91. ISBN 9780816511006.
  2. ^ Xiaoming Wang (2013). Fossil Mammals of Asia: Neogene Biostratigraphy and Chronology. Columbia University Press. p. 433. ISBN 9780231520829.
  3. ^ Avinash Nanda (2002). "Skull characteristics of two proboscideans from the Upper Siwalik Subgroup of Nepal". Neues Jahrbuch fur Geologie und Palaontologie - Abhandlungen: 22. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)