Elephants Evolution Mindmap

Group: 501B Members:

• Nuñez Morales Jorge
• Benítez Tiverovsky Marcos Simón

Elephants

MindMap

Trunk development

Tooth evolution and Replacement

Social Behavior and Intelligence

Body Size and Structure

Current distribution and ecological role

Important adaptations

Current distribution

Ecological role

Climate change

African elephant

Major environmental changes affecting the species

Key evolutionary milestones

Modern elephants

Origin of elephants

First elephants

What can be done?

One of the defining features of proboscideans, the trunk evolved to assist in food gathering, drinking, and social interactions. Early species likely had shorter trunks, which elongated over time, becoming essential for their survival.

• Lophodont and Hypsodont Teeth: Proboscideans adapted their teeth to various diets through lophodont (ridge-shaped) teeth for leaf eating and, eventually, hypsodont (high-crowned) teeth for grazing. Elephants’ molars became flatter with transverse ridges for grinding tough vegetation, especially as they moved from forested to more open grassland habitats.
• Horizontal Tooth Replacement: Unique among mammals, elephants developed a "conveyor belt" system for teeth, where older, worn teeth move forward and are replaced by new ones. This adaptation allows elephants to process large amounts of abrasive vegetation over a lifetime.

current distribution:

Elephants are now limited to two main types: African Elephants (Loxodonta africana): Found in sub-Saharan Africa, they inhabit a range of ecosystems, including savannas, forests, and deserts. Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus): Distributed across South and Southeast Asia, they primarily inhabit forested areas but also adapt to grasslands and human-modified landscapes.

Elephants evolved large body sizes, which helped deter predators and allowed them to travel long distances in search of food and water. Their pillar-like legs and large feet support their weight and distribute it across a broad surface, aiding movement on various terrains.

Early Proboscideans (60 million years ago)

Proboscideans originated in Africa during the Paleocene, with primitive ancestors like Eritherium. These early species were small, resembling modern tapirs more than elephants, and lacked trunks.

Eocene (50 million years ago)

Early proboscideans, such as Moeritherium, appeared, resembling small aquatic mammals rather than elephants.

The Miocene was a period of extensive diversification for proboscideans, including the emergence of genera such as Gomphotheres. These animals spread globally and occupied a wide range of ecological niches, representing a significant expansion of the proboscidean lineage.

Miocene (20–10 million years ago)

Oligocene (30 million years ago)

The Oligocene saw the emergence of more recognizable proboscideans such as Phiomia and Palaeomastodon. These animals were closer relatives to modern elephants and displayed early characteristics of the lineage.

Ecological role:

Modern elephants play a vital role in maintaining the ecosystems they inhabit: Habitat Modification: Elephants shape their environment by uprooting trees, creating clearings that promote grass growth, which benefits various other species. Seed Dispersal: Through their diet, elephants disperse seeds over large areas via their dung, promoting plant biodiversity and forest regeneration. Water Access: Elephants dig for water during dry seasons, creating water sources that other animals rely on.

Numerous measures can be taken to assist elephants in coping with a changing climate. These include safeguarding elephants’ access to water sources, whether natural or artificial. Elephants require space in which to roam, find food and water as well as other elephants for mating. Thus, securing land for elephants and enabling them to move between them, in some cases across national borders, is necessary.

What can be done?

• reduce pressure on elephants’ habitats. .
• In the case of crop raiding, elephants should not be killed.
• put mechanisms in place to minimize deforestation

Pliocene (6 million years ago)

The family Elephantidae—which includes modern elephants and their closest relatives—evolved during the Pliocene. This period marks the divergence of genera such as Loxodonta (African elephants), Elephas (Asian elephants), and Mammuthus (mammoths).

Pleistocene to Present (1 million years ago)

In the Pleistocene, mammoths thrived during Ice Age conditions but eventually went extinct ~10,000 years ago. Meanwhile, the ancestors of modern African and Asian elephants persisted, leading to the Loxodonta africana and Elephas maximus species we see today.

Initially, climate change was associated with natural processes such as the circulation of oceanic currents. However, today it is increasingly believed that human activities such as fossil fuel combustion, deforestation and industrial activities cause climate change. High temperatures affect animals in different ways, but such changes are particularly severe for those that cannot dissipate heat easily, such as elephants.

Climate change affecting elephants

• High temperatures
• Drought
• Deforestation

Reduction of african elephants

In 2007 the elephant population in Africa was estimated at between 470,000 and 690,000. However, this population is rapidly decreasing. Today, African elephants are highly endangered and are listed as ‘vulnerable’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. Climate change, habitat loss, and human-elephant conflict also have an adverse impact, and all have received relatively little attention due to the predominant focus on poaching.

Elephants evolved complex social structures and advanced cognitive abilities. This helped them adapt to diverse environments, manage resources, and maintain social cohesion, which is critical for protection and survival in the wild.