Extinct dwarf elephant halved in height

AN extinct species of dwarf elephant halved in height and shrank by almost 85 per cent in body mass over a period of just 350,000 years after evolving from one of the largest land mammals that ever lived, scientists have found.

In a phenomenon described as “truly striking”, Palaeoloxodon mnaidriensis, which became extinct around 19,000 years ago, lost more than 8,000kg in weight and almost 2m in height after diverging from the much larger straight-tusked elephant Palaeoloxodon antiquus, which was almost 4m tall and weighed 10,000kg.

A team of international researchers, which included scientists from Nottingham Trent University, the universities of York and Cambridge, and the Natural History Museum in London, analysed molecular and fossil evidence to calculate the dwarfing rate of the species.

They found that the dwarf elephant, which lived on the island of Sicily, reduced in weight and height by a maximum 200kg and 4cm per generation, over a maximum period of about 352,000 years.

To put it into context, the researchers said the size reduction of P mnaidriensis is comparable to modern humans dwarfing to approximately the size of a Rhesus monkey.

Dr Axel Barlow, an expert in palaeogenomics and molecular bioscience in Nottingham Trent University’s School of Science and Technology, said: “The magnitude of dwarfing resulting from this rapid evolutionary process is truly striking, resulting in a loss of body mass of almost 85% in one of the largest ever terrestrial mammals.”

He added: “As the descendants of giants, the extinct dwarf elephants are among the most intriguing examples of evolution on islands.”