Taxonomic status of living elephants
Loxodonta africana, the African elephant.
Although elephants are well-known animals, there are debates over the taxonomy of both African and Asian species and subspecies.
Palaeontology Department scientists aim to complement existing genetic research with studies of anatomical variation, especially the features on which the species and subspecies were originally defined.
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African elephants
While recent genetic research has raised the possibility that the two classic forms of elephant in Africa are separate species rather than subspecies of Loxodonta africana, Museum research has uncovered populations with a mosaic of features. Discover more about our findings and recommendations.
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Asian elephants
Learn about Museum research relating to Borneo elephants, an interesting population which is genetically distinct from all other living populations.