Palaeomastodon
genus of mammals (fossil)
Palaeomastodon ("ancient mastodon") is an extinct genus of basal proboscideans from the Oligocene of North Africa. The first specimen discovered was recovered from strata belonging to the Fayum fossil deposits of Egypt. It was described and named in 1901 by Charles Williams Andrews, who named its type species, P. beadnelli, after a colleague. Multiple species have been named since, though have either been reassigned to Phiomia or synonymised with P. beadnelli. Three (possible) unnamed taxa are known from Ethiopia and Libya. All remains are from strata that date to 33–27 million years ago.
Palaeomastodon was fairly large for an early proboscidean. It had an estimated shoulder height of 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in), and a body mass of around 2,500 kg (5,500 lb). Similar to Phiomia, its nasal cavity was retracted and surrounded by strong muscle attachment sites, indicating that it was among the first proboscideans to possess a trunk. Like in modern elephants, the orbits (eye sockets) were positioned further back on the skull, and sat over the molars.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Palaeomastodon” is genus of mammals (fossil). The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Palaeomastodon, genus and mammals, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “genus of mammals (fossil)” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 18, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q132789. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1901.
Scientific names, classifications and consensus can change while older terminology persists in catalogues and historical literature. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Palaeomastodon”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Palaeomastodon primary sources, Palaeomastodon archive and Palaeomastodon research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Palaeomastodon”?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Palaeomastodon” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.