Cuvier’s Gomphothere
Cuvieronius hyodon
🐘
Chordata
Mammalia
Proboscidea
Gomphotheriidae
Cuvieronius
Cuvieronius hyodon
The Highland Trumpeter — Cuvieronius was a New World gomphothere that roamed highland regions of South and Central America. Its spiral-twisted tusks and trunk were key tools in foraging. Early human groups hunted it during the Late Pleistocene.
Description
Cuvieronius hyodon — This extinct gomphothere, a close relative of modern elephants, ranged across North and South America during the Pleistocene Epoch. Standing about 2.3 meters tall at the shoulder and weighing approximately 4,000–4,500 kg, Cuvieronius featured long, upward-curving, spiraled tusks and a trunk, making it superficially similar to modern elephants. Its teeth, however, were adapted for browsing mixed vegetation, particularly in upland environments like the Andes.
It was among the last of the gomphotheres to survive in the Americas, coexisting with early human populations during the terminal Ice Age. While its range included lowlands, many remains have been found in higher-elevation sites, suggesting some degree of adaptation to mountainous terrain.
Quick Facts
Max Mass
Shoulder Height
Standing Height
Length
Diet
Trophic Level
6200
2.3
3.45
4.5
kg
m
m
m
Mixed Feeder
Herbivores – Grazers
Hunt History
Evidence shows that Cuvieronius was actively hunted by early human populations in the Americas during the Late Pleistocene. These hunters likely used stone-tipped spears and coordinated group strategies to target individuals, especially near water sources or migration paths. Its large size made it a valuable source of meat, hide, and ivory.
Three Earliest Archeological Finds with Human Predation Evidence:
El Fin del Mundo, Sonora, Mexico — Clovis spear points were found in direct association with Cuvieronius remains, confirming that humans hunted them here around 13,390 years ago.
Tamalameque, Colombia — Remains of Cuvieronius with cut marks and tools suggest Late Pleistocene exploitation by early human groups.
Cueva del Milodón, Chile — Although best known for other megafauna, Cuvieronius remains have been found alongside human tools, indicating possible opportunistic hunting or scavenging.
Time & Range
Extinction Status
Globally Extinct
Extinction Date
Temporal Range
Region
12000
BP
Late Pleistocene
North America
Wiki Link
Fat Analysis
Fatness Profile:
Medium
Fat %
8
Est. Renderable Fat
496
kg
Targeted Organs
Marrow, brain, visceral fat
Adipose Depots
Visceral (perirenal/mesenteric), limited subcutaneous; marrow, brain lipids
Preferred Cuts
Long-bone marrow & braincase
Hunt Difficulty (x/5)
5