''Elephas iolensis'', also spelled ''Elephas jolensis'', is an extinct species of

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 ...

. The type specimen is located in the

National Museum of Natural History The National Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. It has free admission and is open 364 days a year. In 2021, with 7 ...

in Paris. It is only known from isolated molars. The species is known from remains found across Africa (including Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, and Kenya) dating to the late Middle Pleistocene to

Late Pleistocene The Late Pleistocene is an unofficial Age (geology), age in the international geologic timescale in chronostratigraphy, also known as Upper Pleistocene from a Stratigraphy, stratigraphic perspective. It is intended to be the fourth division of ...

. It was a direct descendant of ''

Elephas recki ''Palaeoloxodon recki'' is an extinct species of elephant native to Africa during the Pliocene and Pleistocene. At up to 14 feet (4.27 metres) in shoulder height, it was one of the largest elephant species to have ever lived. It is believed that ...

''. They are thought to have been dedicated grazers. The species is often spelled "''Elephas iolensis''", however, the original intended spellling appears to be ''Elephas jolensis.'' Some authors have used the combination "''

Palaeoloxodon ''Palaeoloxodon'' is an extinct genus of elephant. The genus originated in Africa during the Pliocene era, and expanded into Eurasia during the Pleistocene era. The genus contains some of the largest known species of elephants, over four metres t ...

iolensis''", reflecting the inclusion of "''E''." ''recki'' within ''Palaeoloxodon.''

References

Prehistoric proboscideans {{Paleo-proboscidean-stub