Elephantimorphs
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Proboscidea
Suborder: Elephantiformes
Clade: Elephantimorpha
Tassy & Shoshani, 1997
Subgroups[1]

Elephantimorpha is a group that contains the Mammutidae (mastodons), as well as Elephantida (amebelodonts, choerolophodonts, gomphotheres, stegodontids and elephantids). All members of this group have the horizontal tooth replacement typical of modern elephants, unlike more primitive members of the Elephantiformes.[2]

Taxonomy

The following cladogram shows the relationships among elephantimorphs, based on hyoid characteristics:[1]

Elephantimorpha

†Mammutidae (mastodons)

Elephantida

†Gomphotheriidae (gomphotheres)

Elephantoidea

†Stegodontidae (stegodontids)

Elephantidae

References

  1. ^ a b Shoshani, J.; Ferretti, M. P.; Lister, A. M.; Agenbroad, L. D.; Saegusa, H.; Mol, D.; Takahashi, K. (2007). "Relationships within the Elephantinae using hyoid characters". Quaternary International. 169–170: 174–185. Bibcode:2007QuInt.169..174S. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2007.02.003.
  2. ^ Sanders, William J. (2018-02-17). "Horizontal tooth displacement and premolar occurrence in elephants and other elephantiform proboscideans". Historical Biology. 30 (1–2): 137–156. doi:10.1080/08912963.2017.1297436. ISSN 0891-2963.


Categories