Choerolophodontidae is an extinct family of large herbivorous mammals that were closely related to

elephant Elephants are the largest existing land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. They are the only surviving members of the family Elephantidae an ...

s. Two genera are known, ''Afrochoerodon'' and ''Choerolophodon''.

Taxonomy

Although usually classified as part of

Gomphotheriidae Gomphotheres are any members of the diverse, extinct taxonomic family Gomphotheriidae. Gomphotheres were elephant-like proboscideans, but do not belong to the family Elephantidae. They were widespread across Afro-Eurasia and North America during ...

, recent cladistic analysis recovers choerolophodont gomphotheres as basal to trilophodont

gomphothere Gomphotheres are any members of the diverse, extinct taxonomic family Gomphotheriidae. Gomphotheres were elephant-like proboscideans, but do not belong to the family Elephantidae. They were widespread across Afro-Eurasia and North America during ...

s and therefore a distinct family.

Distribution

Fossils of choerolophodontids have been found in Africa, China,

Anatolia Anatolia, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau, also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. It constitutes the major part of modern-day Turkey. The re ...

, and the

Balkans The Balkans ( ), also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the who ...

References

Elephantida Prehistoric mammal families Miocene first appearances Miocene extinctions Fossils of Serbia {{paleo-proboscidean-stub