"SHOVEL TUSKERS": EARLY ELEPHANT-LIKE ANIMALS
The "shovel tuskers," or ambelodontids are an extinct family of proboscideans. Early workers classified them as gomphopheres (see one of my previous posts) because they look similar in body shape and size and have tusks. The lower tusks of ambelodontids however are strikingly different as they are flattened and closely spaced (nearly fused in some species), thereby forming an effective spatulate “shovel” for putting vegetation in their mouths.
About eight genera of ambelodontids are known. Most are only Miocene in age. At least four are endemic to North America (e.g., Ambelodon, Eurybelodon, Konobelodon, and Serbelodon). The latter genus is of Miocene age and is known from the Miocene Dove Spring Formation in Southern California, as well as from Pliocene rocks in Nebraska.
Two other genera, Archaeobelodon and Platybelodon are found in North Africa and Europe, and Aphanobelodon is found in China.
Head view of Platybelodon.
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