A PATHOLOGIC STRAIGHT-TUSKED ELEPHANT FEMALE FROM NEUMARK NORD (GERMANY)

Abstract

Marano F. & Palombo M.R., A pathologic straight-tusked elephant female from Neumark Nord. The elephant bones collected during more than ten years (1985-1996) in the interglacial (MIS 7 or MIS 5) lacustrine deposits exposed in the open-cast lignite mine of Neumark Nord (Germany), represent one of the most outstanding samples of straight-tusked elephants in the Pleistocene of Europe. In 1994, a skeleton of an adult female (E8 HK 2007:55) was found in nearly anatomical connection. The postcranial bones were almost all preserved, the skull was partially destroyed, and the tusks and mandible were missing. Wearing stage of molars and fusion of bones, as well as the pelvis morphology indicate a 39-40 years old female for which a height at the shoulders of about 2,9 m and a weight of about 5000 kg have been calculated. The most peculiar traits of this female are the serious scoliosis that affected its vertebral column and the invasive arthritis that deformed its femur and pelvis girdle on the right side.