Platybelodon

Platybelodon is an extinct genus of proboscidean that lived during the Miocene epoch in Africa and Eurasia. The most distinctive feature of Platybelodon was its elongated lower tusks, which formed a shovel-like structure. These tusks were flat and spatulate, resembling a shovel or trowel. Scientists believe these tusks were used for scooping vegetation from water and mud, or for stripping bark from trees. The upper tusks were much smaller or absent in some species.

Platybelodon belonged to the family Gomphotheriidae, a diverse group of elephant relatives that predated modern elephants. These animals were herbivores, and their diet likely consisted of aquatic plants and soft vegetation. Fossil evidence suggests Platybelodon inhabited wetland environments. The genus includes several species, such as Platybelodon grangeri and Platybelodon danovi, differing in size and specific features of their tusks. Its unique morphology sets it apart from other proboscideans, offering a fascinating glimpse into the evolutionary adaptations of prehistoric mammals. The genus went extinct around 6 million years ago, with its exact demise likely linked to environmental changes.