Deinotherium (D. giganteum, "Terrible beast") is an extinct genus of primitive elephants that lived during the Miocene and Pliocene, between approximately 23 and 5 million years ago. They are believed to be close relatives of modern elephants and belonged to the family Deinotheriidae, characterized by downward-curving tusks.
The Deinotherium were huge and robust animals, with bodies that could reach 4 meters in height and weigh up to 10 tons. Its most distinctive feature was its tusks, which were curved downwards and measured up to 2.5 meters in length. Unlike other elephants, Deinotherium had an upwardly curved lower jaw, which allowed them to grasp and tear branches and leaves from trees.
Deinotherium are believed to have been herbivorous animals and to have lived in forests and open plains, in what is now Europe, Africa, and Asia. Their preferred habitat was regions with a large number of plants and trees, as they required a large amount of food to maintain their enormous size.
Deinotherium were adaptable animals and could live in different types of habitats, from humid forests to semi-arid plains. Known to have coexisted with other animals of the time, such as mammoths, rhinos, hippos, and other types of early elephants, it was a very successful group and became contemporary with early humans before going extinct.
As the climate and landscape changed over the millennia, the Deinotherium habitat changed as well. However, as the Pliocene progressed, competition with other herbivores and climatic changes likely contributed to the extinction of the Deinotherium.
Hyper-realistic Bust replica with a high degree of precision.
Approximate measurements of the replica:
- Medium: 65mm
- Large: 110mm
