gomphotheriid

Meaning

An extinct member of a diverse group of proboscidean mammals that lived from the Miocene to the Pleistocene epochs, characterized by their distinctively shaped tusks and molars.

Examples

• Paleontologists recently unearthed a well-preserved gomphotheriid fossil in the desert sands of New Mexico.
• The evolution of the gomphotheriid lineage provides critical insight into how early elephant ancestors adapted to changing climates.