This article is about an extinct African elephant subspecies or species. For the current living African elephant species, see African elephant.
The North African elephant (Loxodonta africana pharaohensis) is an extinct subspecies of the African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), or possibly a separate elephantspecies, that existed in North Africa, north of the Sahara, until it died out in Roman times. These were the famous war elephants used by Carthage in the Punic Wars, their conflict with the Roman Republic. Although the subspecies has been formally described,[1][2] it has not been widely recognized by taxonomists. Other names for this animal include the North African forest elephant, Carthaginian elephant, and Atlas elephant. Originally, its natural range probably extended across North Africa and down to the present Sudanese and Eritrean coasts.
Carthaginian frescoes[3] and coins minted by whoever controlled North Africa at various times show very small elephants, perhaps 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) at the shoulder, with the large ears and concave back typical of modern African elephants. The North African elephant was smaller than the modern African bush elephant (L. a. africana), probably similar in size to the modern African forest elephant (L. cyclotis).
After they conquered Sicily in 242 BC, the Romans tried to capture some specimens that had been left behind in the middle of the island by the Carthaginians, but failed in the endeavor. The elephants with which Hannibal crossed the Pyrenees and the Alps in order to invade Italy during the Second Punic War (218–201 BC) belonged to this group, with the exception of Hannibal's personal animal, Surus (meaning "the Syrian," or possibly "One-Tusker").[4] This individual, according to his documented name and large size, may have been a Syrian elephant(Elephas maximus asurus), which was possibly a subspecies of the Asian elephant that became extinct shortly after Hannibal invaded Italy, but before the extinction of the North African elephant.[citation needed]
The North African elephant was also trained and used by the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt. Writing in the 2nd century BC, Polybius (The Histories; 5.84) described their inferiority in battle against the larger Indian elephants used by the Seleucid kings. A surviving Ptolemaic inscription enumerates three types of war elephant: the "Troglodytic" (probably Libyan), the "Ethiopian", and the "Indian". The Ptolemaic king prides himself on being the first to tame the Ethiopian elephants, a stock which could be identical to one of the two extant African species.[citation needed]
During the reign of Augustus, about 3,500 elephants were killed in Roman circus games,[5][specify] and this prolonged use as a beast in games of baiting along with hunting would drive the species to extinction at the 4th century AD.[6]
Taxonomic uncertaintyEdit
Given the relatively recent date of its disappearance, the status of this population can probably be resolved through ancient DNAsequence analyses, if specimens of definite North African origin can be located and examined. Remains dating to the time of the Roman Republic from Tetouan, Morocco, identified as those of an elephant by collagen fingerprinting, likely belong to this taxon.[7]
^Yalden, D. W.; Largen, M. J.; Kock, D. (1986). "Catalogue of the Mammals of Ethiopia (III: Order Proboscidea)". Monitore Zoologico Italiano, Supplemento. 21 (1): 46–52. doi:10.1080/03749444.1986.10736707.
^Scullard, H. H. (1953). "Ennius, Cato, and Surus". The Classical Review. 3 (3/4): 140–142. doi:10.1017/S0009840X00995805. JSTOR 703426. S2CID 162984205.
^Greg Woolf (2007). Ancient civilizations: the illustrated guide to belief, mythology, and art. Barnes & Noble. p. 397. ISBN978-1-4351-0121-0.
^Pritisk, Yuri (November 2019). "North African or Carthaginian elephant (Loxodonta africana pharaohensis)". Smithsonian magazine. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
^Rodrigues, Ana S. L.; Charpentier, Anne; Bernal-Casasola, Darío; Gardeisen, Armelle; Nores, Carlos; Pis Millán, José Antonio; McGrath, Krista; Speller, Camilla F. (2018-07-11). "Forgotten Mediterranean calving grounds of grey and North Atlantic right whales: evidence from Roman archaeological records". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 285 (1882): 20180961. doi:10.1098/rspb.2018.0961. ISSN 0962-8452. PMC6053924. PMID 30051821.
September 01, 2023
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This article is about an extinct African elephant subspecies or species For the current living African elephant species see African elephant The North African elephant Loxodonta africana pharaohensis is an extinct subspecies of the African bush elephant Loxodonta africana or possibly a separate elephant species that existed in North Africa north of the Sahara until it died out in Roman times These were the famous war elephants used by Carthage in the Punic Wars their conflict with the Roman Republic Although the subspecies has been formally described 1 2 it has not been widely recognized by taxonomists Other names for this animal include the North African forest elephant Carthaginian elephant and Atlas elephant Originally its natural range probably extended across North Africa and down to the present Sudanese and Eritrean coasts North African elephantTemporal range Holocene 0 0117 0 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Roman mosaic at Ostia Antica ItalyConservation statusExtinct c 100 citation needed Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder ProboscideaFamily ElephantidaeGenus LoxodontaSpecies L africanaSubspecies L a pharaoensisTrinomial name Loxodonta africana pharaoensisDeraniyagala 1948 Contents 1 Description 2 History 3 Taxonomic uncertainty 4 See also 5 ReferencesDescription Edit nbsp Roman bronze statue of a war elephantCarthaginian frescoes 3 and coins minted by whoever controlled North Africa at various times show very small elephants perhaps 2 5 metres 8 ft 2 in at the shoulder with the large ears and concave back typical of modern African elephants The North African elephant was smaller than the modern African bush elephant L a africana probably similar in size to the modern African forest elephant L cyclotis History EditSee also Damnatio ad bestias After they conquered Sicily in 242 BC the Romans tried to capture some specimens that had been left behind in the middle of the island by the Carthaginians but failed in the endeavor The elephants with which Hannibal crossed the Pyrenees and the Alps in order to invade Italy during the Second Punic War 218 201 BC belonged to this group with the exception of Hannibal s personal animal Surus meaning the Syrian or possibly One Tusker 4 This individual according to his documented name and large size may have been a Syrian elephant Elephas maximus asurus which was possibly a subspecies of the Asian elephant that became extinct shortly after Hannibal invaded Italy but before the extinction of the North African elephant citation needed The North African elephant was also trained and used by the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt Writing in the 2nd century BC Polybius The Histories 5 84 described their inferiority in battle against the larger Indian elephants used by the Seleucid kings A surviving Ptolemaic inscription enumerates three types of war elephant the Troglodytic probably Libyan the Ethiopian and the Indian The Ptolemaic king prides himself on being the first to tame the Ethiopian elephants a stock which could be identical to one of the two extant African species citation needed During the reign of Augustus about 3 500 elephants were killed in Roman circus games 5 specify and this prolonged use as a beast in games of baiting along with hunting would drive the species to extinction at the 4th century AD 6 Taxonomic uncertainty EditGiven the relatively recent date of its disappearance the status of this population can probably be resolved through ancient DNA sequence analyses if specimens of definite North African origin can be located and examined Remains dating to the time of the Roman Republic from Tetouan Morocco identified as those of an elephant by collagen fingerprinting likely belong to this taxon 7 See also EditSyrian elephantReferences Edit Nowak Ronald M 1999 Walker s Mammals of the World 6 ed Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press p 1002 ISBN 978 0 8018 5789 8 Yalden D W Largen M J Kock D 1986 Catalogue of the Mammals of Ethiopia III Order Proboscidea Monitore Zoologico Italiano Supplemento 21 1 46 52 doi 10 1080 03749444 1986 10736707 tunisie Tunisie Carthage la ville disparue Scullard H H 1953 Ennius Cato and Surus The Classical Review 3 3 4 140 142 doi 10 1017 S0009840X00995805 JSTOR 703426 S2CID 162984205 Greg Woolf 2007 Ancient civilizations the illustrated guide to belief mythology and art Barnes amp Noble p 397 ISBN 978 1 4351 0121 0 Pritisk Yuri November 2019 North African or Carthaginian elephant Loxodonta africana pharaohensis Smithsonian magazine Retrieved 5 January 2023 Rodrigues Ana S L Charpentier Anne Bernal Casasola Dario Gardeisen Armelle Nores Carlos Pis Millan Jose Antonio McGrath Krista Speller Camilla F 2018 07 11 Forgotten Mediterranean calving grounds of grey and North Atlantic right whales evidence from Roman archaeological records Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences 285 1882 20180961 doi 10 1098 rspb 2018 0961 ISSN 0962 8452 PMC 6053924 PMID 30051821 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title North African elephant amp oldid 1163407116, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
