Evolutionary History
The below two diagrams show the common ancestors and lineage of the Asian Elephant.
- As mentioned earlier, the Asian Elephant is found in the Proboscidea order. The earliest known ancestor of this order belongs to the genus Palaeomastodon, which existed 36 million years ago. Palaeomastodon elephants contained both a trunk making up the top lip and tusks. However, the tusks and trunks of the Palaeomastodon were of a small scale in size compared to today’s Asian elephants.
2. A more modern ancestor from the genus
Moeritherium consisted of species that were the size of a pig. Fossils have
indicated that moeritherium animals were made up of a small trunk and a pair of
small tusks like teeth at the bottom and top of their jaws. These animals were
indicated to be a meter tall and adaptable to living in the water. Modern day
animals that resemble such characteristics and are relatives to the Asian elephant
are sea cows, hippopotamuses, and tapirs.
3. Primelephas was another elephant genus type. It includes the family Elephantinae, which the Asian elephant belongs to. This ancient ancestor of the Asian elephant existed between the Miocene and Pliocene time periods-found in east Africa. The Primelephas elephants were the first to develop just two, strong tusks like the Asian elephants today. Ancestors before the Primelephas used to have numerous, tiny, tusks like teeth in the jaw area. Leading to further evolution, the Primelephas underwent many changes like the number of plates in the molar increasing, the thickness of the enamel decreasing, and the molars gaining in height (Maguire).