Deinotheriidae ("terrible beasts") is a family of prehistoric elephant-like proboscideans that lived during the Cenozoic era, first appearing in Africa, then spreading across southern Asia (Indo-Pakistan) and Europe. During that time they changed very little, apart from growing much larger in size - by the late Miocene they had become the largest land animals of their time. Their most distinctive feature was the downward curving tusks on the lower jaw.
Facts[]
Deinotheres were not very diverse; there are only three known genera: Chilgatherium; Prodeinotherium; and Deinotherium. These form an evolutionary succession (with each new genus replacing the preceding one).
Unlike the various mammoth and mastodont lineages, the deinotheres died out in the early Pleistocene, rather than continuing through the ice age.
In Walking with... Series[]
Walking with Beasts[]
Next of Kin[]
This episode starred Deinotherium, one of the most famous deinotheres. A young member of this species scared away a group of Australopithecus in the beginning of the episode. Then a male in musth attacked the same group as they travelled through the savanna in search of a new place to live.
Walking with Cavemen[]
Blood Brothers[]
This episode used stock footage of Deinotherium from WWB.
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African Elephant • Deinotherium • Moeritherium • Palaeomastodon • Woolly mammoth |