Evolution of elephants
The Phosphatherium Elephants evolved from a pig sized mammal named Phosphatherium. The Phosphatherium appeard in Africa around 60 million years ago. The Phosphatherium acted more like pygmy hippopotamus than modern elephants. |  |
  Palaeomastodon The Palaeomastodon is closely related to Moeritherium. Palaeomastodon lived around 35 million years ago and weighed around 2 tons. It resembles the modern elephant alot more than its predecessors with its scooped-shaped lower tusks. |
Phiomia and Moeritherium <== Phiomia and Moeritherium lived in northern African swamps and woodlands between 37 to 30 million years ago. The better known of the two, Moeritherium, had a flexible upper lip and snout, as well as extended canines that could be considered rudimentry tusks. Like a hippo, Moeritherium spent most of his time half-submerged in swamps eating aquatic vegetation. Phiomia resembled more a modern elephant, it weighed about half a ton and ate terrestrial greens unlike Moeritherium.  |
