An overview of Palaeloxodon naumanni, the Palaeoloxodon (Elephantidae) of the far east: distribution, morphology and habitat

This paper summarizes previous studies of Palaeoloxodon naumanni, including stratigraphic distribution, chronology, morphological characteristics, taxonomy, habitat, and accompanying fauna. P. naumanni has been reported from over 300 sites on the Japanese Islands, ranging from 44° to 33° N latitude. Many of them have been dated by tephra stratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy, or 14C dating. Based on the age-dated specimens, P. naumanni is thought to have lived in Japan from 340,000 to 26,000 years ago. Skeletal morphology of P. naumanni is well known. In particular, the skull has been identified as male and female. And the examination of the skulls indicate that Palaeoloxodon is an independent genus within Elephantinae, and also P. naumanni as an independent species within Palaeoloxodon. Based on the vegetation data obtained from P. naumanni localities and the co-existed animal species with P. naumanni indicate that it has inhabited mixed forests with deciduous broad-leaved trees and conifers in the temperate zone. During the latter half of the Late Pleistocene, when the mammoth fauna migrated southwards to Japan, the deciduous broad-leaved forests that were widespread in Honshu were inhabited by the fauna accompanied by P. naumanni. These two faunas repeatedly shifted north and south in response to global climatic changes.