How Large Were the Predecessors of Modern Elephants?

If you could go back in time 325,000 years or more, the Nafud Desert of Saudi Arabia would have been quite a different place. Instead of being a stifling hot sea of wind-whipped sand, everything was lush and green, and giant elephants -- about twice the size of today’s behemoths -- bathed in lakes and lived comfortably. We know this because a team led by Oxford University archeologists found a giant tusk belonging to Elephas recki, an extinct species of elephant, remarkably preserved and embedded in an ancient lake.

The shifting sands of time:

  • Researchers uncovered the animal's remains in northwestern Saudi Arabia in 2014, and the excavations are ongoing. They have noted evidence of “7,000 (dried-up) lake beds on the peninsula, mostly in Saudi Arabia.”
  • Scientists estimate that these prehistoric elephants weighed 13,000 to 15,400 pounds (5,897 to 6,985 kg), roughly twice the size of a modern African elephant. They estimate its height at about 11.8 feet (more than 3.6 m) at the shoulder.
  • In the same sand layer as the tusk, researchers found the remains of an extinct jaguar, an oryx, and a member of the horse family -- as well as stone tools indicating the presence of early humans.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the largest known predecessors of modern elephants?

The largest known predecessors of modern elephants were the members of the genus Palaeoloxodon, specifically the Palaeoloxodon namadicus. These ancient giants roamed the Earth during the Pleistocene and could reach up to 4 meters in height and weigh up to 22 tons, dwarfing today's largest African elephants.

How did the size of prehistoric elephants compare to today's species?

Prehistoric elephants, such as the mammoths and mastodons, were generally larger than today's elephants. For instance, the Woolly Mammoth could grow up to 3.4 meters tall, while the American Mastodon could reach 3 meters. In contrast, the largest modern elephants, the African elephants, typically stand around 3 meters tall at the shoulder.

Did all prehistoric elephant ancestors grow to enormous sizes?

Not all prehistoric elephant ancestors were enormous. Some species, like the dwarf elephants that evolved on islands such as Sicily, Sardinia, and Cyprus, were much smaller due to the phenomenon of insular dwarfism. These miniature elephants could be as small as 1 meter tall at the shoulder.

What factors contributed to the large size of prehistoric elephants?

The large size of prehistoric elephants can be attributed to several factors, including evolutionary pressures like the need for thermoregulation in cold environments, which favored larger body sizes. Additionally, the absence of significant predators and the abundance of food in certain periods likely contributed to their gigantism.

Are there any living descendants of these giant prehistoric elephants?

Yes, modern elephants—both the African and Asian species—are the living descendants of these prehistoric giants. They share a common ancestry with the mammoths and mastodons, although they are generally smaller in size compared to some of their massive forebears.

How do scientists determine the size of extinct elephant species?

Scientists determine the size of extinct elephant species by studying fossilized remains, such as bones and teeth. By comparing these fossils to the bones of modern elephants, paleontologists can estimate the size and weight of these prehistoric creatures. Radiometric dating and other methods help to provide context and scale for these ancient species.

More Info: Live Science

Discussion Comments

anon998853

We don't know if the human(oid)s contributed to the climate change or not. Deforestation is a possibility and it has happened in the past.

anon998847

Climate change doing what it's always done.

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