![]() | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (July 2015) |
Deinotheriidae Temporal range:
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Deinotherium | |
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Life restoration of Deinotherium bozasi | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Proboscidea |
Suborder: | †Plesielephantiformes |
Family: | †Deinotheriidae Bonaparte, 1845 |
Type genus | |
†Deinotherium Kaup, 1829
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Genera | |
Subfamily †Chilgatheriinae Subfamily †Deinotheriinae |
Deinotheriidae ("terrible beasts") is a family of prehistoric elephant-like proboscideans that lived during the Cenozoic era, first appearing in Africa, then spreading across southern Asia (Indo-Pakistan) and Europe. During that time, they changed very little, apart from growing much larger in size; by the late Miocene, they had become the largest land animals of their time. Their most distinctive features were their lack of upper tusks and downward-curving tusks on the lower jaw.
Deinotheres were not very diverse; the only three known genera are Chilgatherium, Prodeinotherium, and Deinotherium. These form an evolutionary succession, with each new genus replacing the preceding one. The last deinotheres persisted until the end of the Early Pleistocene in Africa, around 1 million years ago.