Stegodon Teeth

In the past, stegodons were believed to be the ancestors of the true elephants and mammoths, but it is currently believed that they have no modern descendants. Stegodon is derived from the genus Stegolophodon, an extinct genus known from the Miocene of Asia. Stegodon is considered to be a sister group of the mammoth, as well as the extant elephants. Some taxonomists consider the stegodons as a subfamily of the Elephantidae. Both Stegolophodon and primitive elephants were derived from the Gomphotheriidae. The most important difference between stegodon and the Elephantidae can be observed in the molars. Molars of stegodons consist of a series of low, roof-shaped ridges, whereas in elephants each ridge has become a high-crowned plate.

Last Modified 08/18/2009