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.
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