Cranial evidence for the presence of a second endemic elephant species on Cyprus

摘要: Abstract Cyprus, the largest Eastern Mediterranean island, hosted a highly impoverished endemic mammalian fauna during Pleistocene to early Holocene times. This was result of its extreme biogeographic isolation since formation, which prevented immigration most terrestrial mammals, except for those with apparent sea channel crossing abilities. The main faunal elements are extremely dwarfed hippo Phanourios minor, commonly found in many sites across and dwarf elephant Palaeoloxodon cypriotes. latter is very small-sized species, comparable size Siculo-Maltese falconeri. Larger dental specimens sporadically last century, raised possibility that second elephant, larger than P. cypriotes, may have also existed Cyprus. Here we describe skull recently excavated coastal area Xylophagou, SE provides evidence that, indeed, two species on island. xylophagou n. sp., still strongly characterised by elongated, low wide skull, diverging tusk alveoli comparatively large molars. Dimensionally dentition distinctly P. cypriotes close tiliensis, though intermediate between P. tiliensis P. falconeri. Both Cypriot exhibit morphological affinities antiquus, their probable ancestor. Stratigraphic data suggest P. xylophagou older (late Middle Pleistocene), while more recent (latest Holocene) descended from former or – less probably evolved as separate, colonisation event.