The origins of the elephant Elephants are large herbivorus mammals and belong to the Family Proboscidea which means animals with a long flexible snout or proboscis. They evolved from a pig sized ancestor that lived in northern Africa about 50-60 million years ago. Through time, Family Proboscidea comprised of more than 350 species. But today Family Proboscidea is represented by only three species, Loxodonta africana (African savannah elephant) Loxodonta cyclotis (African forest elephant) Elephas maximus (Asian elephant)
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