Palaeoloxodon huaihoensis
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Class Mammalia
Order Proboscidea
Family Elephantidae
This Palaeoloxodon huaihoensis fossil includes part of the skull bone and upper jawbone with molars. The main characteristic of Palaeoloxodon huaihoensis was enamel plates shaped like rhombuses that form molars for chewing. The teeth of this elephant species were well developed and it was very large in size. It was mainly found in northern China's Huai River region. During the Ice Age, the sea receded, forming a land shelf along part of the Taiwan Strait. This newly formed terrestrial environment allowed for migration southward and the development of new habitats for Palaeoloxodon huaihoensis and other large mammals. This elephant species is one of the representative large mammals of the Penghu fauna.
