The identification rests on an incomplete upper molar and the lower jaw of a young animal; because the molar is broken, it could not be determined whether it is the second or third molar, hence the 'cf.' (compare with) in the name.
SRC-033
Loading…
Approved version OWNER-REVIEW-20261022T140614109 · last approved 22 October 2026
The identification rests on an incomplete upper molar and the lower jaw of a young animal; because the molar is broken, it could not be determined whether it is the second or third molar, hence the 'cf.' (compare with) in the name.
SRC-033
Anatomical comparisons lead researchers to regard the African species Palaeoloxodon recki (also written Elephas recki) as the ancestor of all Palaeoloxodon species in Eurasia.
SRC-RES-3D818E10DC
According to the authors, if Palaeoloxodon recki is indeed ancestral to Palaeoloxodon antiquus, it would also belong to the Loxodonta lineage.
SRC-RES-3D818E10DC
The site's fossils date to the Middle Pleistocene, about 500,000 years ago, based on uranium-series and ESR dating of oryx teeth.
The Elephas/Palaeoloxodon recki lineage as a whole (the so-called E. recki complex) disappeared from Africa near the boundary between the Middle Pleistocene and the Late Pleistocene.
The Afar isotope record does not support the hypothesis that Palaeoloxodon recki recki became extinct during the Late Acheulean because it was unable to adapt to climatic instability.