Primelephas fossil map
Where fossils of Primelephas have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 5 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 5 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 23.04–2.58 million years ago (Aquitanian to Piacenzian) |
| Periods | Neogene |
| Family | Elephantidae |
| Named by | Maglio 1970 |
| Fossil records | 60 occurrences at 14 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Kenya, Chad, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda |
| Rock formations | txn:43263, Adu-Asa, Wembere-Manonga, Nawata and Nachukui, Chemeron, Lukeino |
About Primelephas
Primelephas is an extinct genus of primitive elephantid that lived in Africa during the Late Miocene to early Pliocene c. 7.2-4 million years ago, with fossils having been found in Kenya, Ethiopia, Chad, Uganda and Tanzania. The name of the genus suggests 'first elephant'.
Although commonly asserted to have retained lower tusks, this has been questioned, and it has been suggested that Primelephas actually had a tuskless lower jaw, with supposed tusked lower jaws actually belonging to Stegotetrabelodon instead. One partially complete skull is known, the Ugandan NY 46’92, which belonged to a subadult around 12.5-14.3 years old at time of death. This skull had inflated nasal process of the premaxillae (the tusk containing bones), as well as tusk sockets which were only weakly divergent outwards from each other. Members of the genus retained permanent premolar teeth, unlike modern elephants, with its teeth being relatively primitive compared to modern elephants, such as having a low lamellae/plate count and being relatively low crowned. Analysis of humerus bones suggests that it reached a size comparable to living African bush elephants (Loxodonta africana).
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Primelephas (revision 1374586784), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q134480.
