Palaeomastodon beadnelli

Overview

Palaeomastodon beadnelli was an early elephant relative distinguished by an elongated lower jaw. It is studied from fossils in the Fayum of present-day Egypt. Its combination of head and tusks differs from that of modern elephants.^[1]

Key facts

A lower jaw can be the starting point for understanding an elephant relative’s head. Type specimen C10014 of this species is presented as a left lower jaw. Jaw length and tooth positions provide clues for comparing early proboscideans.^[1]

Time and place

It is associated with early Oligocene material from around 33 million years ago. It is one of the early elephant relatives known from the Fayum of present-day Egypt. Considering several proboscideans from this region reveals changes in their bodies.^[1]

The time range describes source context, not the complete duration of this species.

Size, form and skeleton

The group’s skull is low, and the front of the lower jaw is elongated. Comparative genus- and family-level accounts describe lower tusks pointing forward and upper tusks pointing downward and slightly sideways. Retracted nasal bones have also prompted research into the possibility of a small trunk.^[1]

One femur of Palaeomastodon beadnelli is 87.5 cm long. Based on it, a 2016 study estimated a shoulder height including flesh and muscle of about 2.2 m.^[6]

The individual to which this femur belonged is estimated to have weighed more than 2.5 tonnes. Even one limb bone conveys the massive size of an early elephant relative.^[6]

Habitat and reproduction

The group’s low tooth crowns and water-rich forest environment are linked to leaf browsing. Researchers interpreted feeding in early palaeomastodontids from such clues. Examining the elongated jaw and teeth together reveals feeding apparatus different from that of modern elephants.^[1]

Fossil discovery

In 1901, Andrews introduced a lower jaw from Oligocene layers in a short report. He also announced plans to describe it in detail as Palaeomastodon beadnelli. In 1905, further comparisons of Fayum material continued the work of distinguishing several species.^[2][3]

References

1. Sanders et al.2010 — Palaeomastodon and early proboscideans
2. Andrews1901 — An Oligocene mandible and Palaeomastodon
3. Andrews1905 — Various species of Palaeomastodon
4. Sanders et al.2010 — Barytherium and early proboscideans
5. Sanders et al.2010 — Palaeomastodon and early proboscideans
6. Larramendi (2016) — Shoulder height and body mass in proboscideans

Research questions

How were an elongated lower jaw and differently directed tusks used together? Jawbones, teeth, and nasal bone positions are compared with other early proboscideans. This invites exploration of the many head structures preceding the long trunk of modern elephants.^[1]

Observation

Move your gaze from the nose at the front of the head to the elongated lower jaw and tusks. Comparing the directions of upper and lower teeth clarifies this early elephant relative’s head.^[1]