Elephant brains can weigh as much as 5 kgs, more than the brain of any other land animal. But what drove this particular element of elephant evolution? Even though the fossil record of elephant ancestors is rich — with almost 300 species described — we simply haven’t known the answer for a long time. From the earliest species with small brains to the modern elephants with large brains, there was an almost 30 million-year-long gap in our knowledge.
Now, thanks to cutting edge scanning techniques and state of the art statistical reconstruction of ancestral features, we have the answer. A team of scientists from South Africa, Europe and North America — including us — have spent six years reconstructing the first accurate time line of brain evolution in the elephant lineage.
Climate change is a large part of it. A shift in climate, along with other environmental disruptions and the invasion of competitors and new predators all likely played an important role in reshaping ancient elephants’ brains. Knowing this not only solves a long standing scientific mystery.
Picture Credit : Google