Naumann’s Elephant
Palaeoloxodon naumanni
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Chordata
Mammalia
Proboscidea
Elephantidae
Palaeoloxodon
Palaeoloxodon naumanni
The Naumann’s Elephant, a cold-adapted descendant of the straight-tusked elephant, once roamed the ancient woodlands of East Asia. Known from fossils found across Japan and China, Palaeoloxodon naumanni was a close relative of the larger European Palaeoloxodon antiquus, but adapted to cooler, forested environments. It was likely hunted by early humans during the late Pleistocene.
Description
Naumann’s Elephant (Palaeoloxodon naumanni) — This extinct species of straight-tusked elephant lived during the Middle to Late Pleistocene (about 500,000–30,000 years ago). It stood about 2.5–3 meters tall at the shoulder, reached 6–6.5 meters in length, and weighed roughly 4,000–5,000 kilograms. It was characterized by long, slightly curved tusks and a prominent cranial dome — a distinctive feature of the genus Palaeoloxodon. Its thick coat and smaller size relative to its European relatives suggest adaptation to temperate climates.
Quick Facts
Max Mass
Shoulder Height
Standing Height
Length
Diet
Trophic Level
2200
2.5
3.75
5
kg
m
m
m
Mixed Feeder
Herbivores – Grazers
Hunt History
Palaeoloxodon naumanni coexisted with Paleolithic humans in Japan and East Asia. Evidence from archaeological sites suggests early humans hunted and butchered these elephants using stone tools, possibly in coordinated group hunts near lakes or river crossings. Their meat, bones, and tusks were valuable resources.
Earliest Archaeological Evidence of Human Predation:
Lake Nojiri, Nagano Prefecture, Japan (~38,000 BP) — Butchered bones of P. naumanni with stone tools and hunting implements found in association.
Seta River Basin, Japan (~40,000 BP) — Elephant remains with cut marks, showing organized hunting and carcass processing.
Iwate Prefecture, Japan (~30,000 BP) — Fossil assemblage of elephant bones with evidence of human activity nearby, suggesting scavenging or hunting.
Time & Range
Extinction Status
Globally Extinct
Extinction Date
Temporal Range
Region
24000
BP
Late Pleistocene
Japan
Wiki Link
Fat Analysis
Fatness Profile:
Medium
Fat %
8
Est. Renderable Fat
176
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