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A new partial skeleton of Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) antiquus Falconer and Cautley, 1847 (Proboscidea, Elephantidae) from Amyntaio, Macedonia, Greece.
- Source :
-
Quaternary International . Jun2016 Part B, Vol. 406, p35-56. 22p. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Elephas ( Palaeoloxodon ) antiquus is a well-known elephant species of the Middle and Late Pleistocene of Europe, but few skeletons so far have been described in detail. Here we present a detailed account of a partial skeleton in good condition from the alluvial sands of the Amyntaio coal mines, Macedonia, Greece. It represents a large male aged in its forties. Based on extant and extinct elephant specimens, the Amyntaio's elephant estimated height at the shoulder is 3.5 m and its weight close to 9 tonnes. A CT scan was performed on the deformed fifth metacarpal which was diagnosed with osteomyelitis, probably rendering the animal lame. No signs of further biologically induced ante- or post-mortem modifications were detected. From that skeleton the first known basihyoid bone of E. antiquus is recovered; comparisons with homologous bones of other elephantid taxa show it has a very distinct morphology and can be used in phylogenetic studies of the Elephantidae family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 10406182
- Volume :
- 406
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Quaternary International
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 115678849
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2015.11.110