An overview of <i>Palaeloxodon naumanni</i>, the <i>Palaeoloxodon</i> (Elephantidae) of the far east: distribution, morphology and habitat
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This paper summarizes previous studies of <i>Palaeoloxodon naumanni</i>, including stratigraphic distribution, chronology, morphological characteristics, taxonomy, habitat, and accompanying fauna. <i>P. naumanni</i> 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 <sup>14</sup>C dating. Based on the age-dated specimens, <i>P. naumanni</i> is thought to have lived in Japan from 340,000 to 26,000 years ago. Skeletal morphology of <i>P. naumanni</i> is well known. In particular, the skull has been identified as male and female. And the examination of the skulls indicate that <i>Palaeoloxodon</i> is an independent genus within Elephantinae, and also <i>P. naumanni</i> as an independent species within <i>Palaeoloxodon</i>. Based on the vegetation data obtained from <i>P. naumanni</i> localities and the co-existed animal species with <i>P. naumanni</i> 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 <i>P. naumanni</i>. These two faunas repeatedly shifted north and south in response to global climatic changes.
