Elephants belong to the biological order Proboscidea, a group of large terrestrial mammals characterized by an elongated proboscis (trunk), columnar limbs, and tusks derived from upper incisors. Modern Proboscidea are represented solely by the family Elephantidae, which includes African and Asian elephants, while the order historically encompassed diverse extinct lineages such as mammoths and mastodons (in related families). Proboscideans exhibit complex social structures, advanced cognitive capacities, and long lifespans, and they are primarily herbivorous. Their evolutionary history, biogeography, and morphological specializations make Proboscidea a key model for studying macroevolution, adaptive radiations, and mammalian gigantism.
A study by the National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC), the National Research Center on Human Evolution (CENIEH) and the University of Alcalá offers a new explanation for the decline of African megaherbivores. These ...
Ecology
Aug 20, 2026
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In the last few centuries, mammals and other animals have been going extinct at least 100 times faster than they did before humans arrived on the scene. So who will be next? Which species are most likely to survive, and which ...
Plants & Animals
Aug 20, 2026
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9
When people think about climate change and animals, they might picture melting sea ice, drought-stricken landscapes or species struggling in the wild. Far less attention is given to the animals living in our care. Yet as ...
Ecology
Aug 17, 2026
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Lying on the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust, the elephant slowly exhausted himself in futile attempts to stand, the latest potential victim of a still-mysterious ailment in southern Kenya.
Ecology
Aug 13, 2026
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The DNA of Asian elephants tells a concerning story. Although all four subspecies are under pressure, there are considerable differences in their genetic health. In an article published in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution, ...
Ecology
Aug 12, 2026
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The last three elephants still in a traditional South African zoo entered their enclosure in single file, with fruit and vegetables scattered on the ground to encourage natural foraging.
Ecology
Jul 31, 2026
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Ex-captive elephants released into the wild adapt well to wild environments, according to a study published July 29, 2026, in the journal PLOS One by Tenisha Roos and Tamara Eggeling of the Elephant Reintegration Trust of ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 29, 2026
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78
After more than 15 years of collaborative research, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) and Houston Zoo have reached a major milestone in the fight against elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV), publishing the first peer-reviewed ...
Veterinary medicine
Jul 28, 2026
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10
Every year, thousands of tourists pile into game drive vehicles or don their hiking gear and cross South Africa's nature reserves. Binoculars and cameras at the ready, each hopes for a special encounter with Africa's wildlife—as ...
Ecology
Jul 23, 2026
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21
Elephants living in modern zoos are living significantly longer than they did half a century ago, according to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports. The research—led by ZSL (the Zoological Society of London) ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 21, 2026
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