Stegolophodon fossil map
Where fossils of Stegolophodon have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 15 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 15 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 | 23.04–1.8 million years ago (Aquitanian to Gelasian) |
| Periods | Neogene, Quaternary |
| Family | Stegodontidae |
| Named by | Pohlig 1888 |
| Fossil records | 66 occurrences at 27 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Japan, South Africa, China, Thailand, Myanmar, India, Pakistan |
| Rock formations | txn:43270, Kurosedani, Shagou, Irrawaddy, Tsukinoki, Manchar |
About Stegolophodon
Stegolophodon is an extinct genus of stegodontid proboscideans. It lived during the Miocene epoch in Asia. The earliest fossils are known from the Early Miocene, with one of the oldest fossils being from Japan, estimated to be 17.3 million years old. It is suggested to be the ancestor of Stegodon, and transitional fossils between the two genera known from the Late Miocene of Southeast Asia and Yunnan in South China. Like modern elephants, Stegolophodon developed proal jaw movement, where the lower jaw moves in a back-to-front motion, rather than the oblique chewing motion used by earlier proboscideans, with this development already present by 17.3 million years ago. Members of the genus generally have tetralophodont molars, and retain tusks on the lower jaw. The upper tusks have an enamel band.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Stegolophodon (revision 1359181327), 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: Q3021923.
