Elephas is one of two surviving genera

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

 in the order

Order (biology)

In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...

 of elephant

Elephant

Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...

s, Proboscidea

Proboscidea

Proboscidea is a taxonomic order containing one living family, Elephantidae, and several extinct families. This order was first described by J. Illiger in 1881 and encompasses the trunked mammals...

. The genus has one surviving species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

, the Asian elephant

Asian Elephant

The Asian or Asiatic elephant is the only living species of the genus Elephas and distributed in Southeast Asia from India in the west to Borneo in the east. Three subspecies are recognized — Elephas maximus maximus from Sri Lanka, the Indian elephant or E. m. indicus from mainland Asia, and E. m....

 Elephas maximus.

Several extinct

Extinction

In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...

 species have been identified as belonging to the genus, including Elephas recki

Elephas recki

Elephas recki is an extinct species related to the Asian elephant Elephas maximus. At up to 15 feet in shoulder height, it was one of the largest elephant species to have ever lived. It is believed that E. recki ranged throughout Africa between 3.5 and 1 million years ago. The Asian Elephant is...

, Elephas antiquus, and the dwarf elephant

Dwarf elephant

Dwarf elephants are prehistoric members of the order Proboscidea, that, through the process of allopatric speciation, evolved to a fraction of the size of their immediate ancestors...

s E. falconeri

Elephas falconeri

Elephas falconeri is an extinct Siculo-Maltese species of elephant closely related to the modern Asian elephant...

and E. cypriotes. The genus is very closely related to the mammoth

Mammoth

A mammoth is any species of the extinct genus Mammuthus. These proboscideans are members of Elephantidae, the family of elephants and mammoths, and close relatives of modern elephants. They were often equipped with long curved tusks and, in northern species, a covering of long hair...

 genus Mammuthus.

Taxonomy

The genus is assigned to the proboscidea

Proboscidea

Proboscidea is a taxonomic order containing one living family, Elephantidae, and several extinct families. This order was first described by J. Illiger in 1881 and encompasses the trunked mammals...

n family Elephantidae

Elephantidae

Elephantidae is a taxonomic family, collectively elephants and mammoths. These are terrestrial large mammals with a trunk and tusks. Most genera and species in the family are extinct...

. This is a list of living and extinct species and subspecies of Elephas:

• Elephantidae
  Elephantidae
  Elephantidae is a taxonomic family, collectively elephants and mammoths. These are terrestrial large mammals with a trunk and tusks. Most genera and species in the family are extinct...
  
  
  • Genus Elephas (Eurasian elephants)
    • Species Elephas maximus
      Asian Elephant
      The Asian or Asiatic elephant is the only living species of the genus Elephas and distributed in Southeast Asia from India in the west to Borneo in the east. Three subspecies are recognized — Elephas maximus maximus from Sri Lanka, the Indian elephant or E. m. indicus from mainland Asia, and E. m....
      
      (Asian elephant)
      • Subspecies Elephas maximus indicus
        Indian Elephant
        The Indian Elephant is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, and native to mainland Asia. Since 1986, Elephas maximus has been listed as endangered by IUCN as the population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations, estimated to be 60–75 years...
        
        (Indian Elephant)
      • Subspecies Elephas maximus maximus
        Sri Lankan Elephant
        The Sri Lankan Elephant is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian Elephant, and native to Sri Lanka. Since 1986, Elephas maximus has been listed as endangered by IUCN as the population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations, estimated to be 60–75 years...
        
        (Sri Lankan Elephant)
      • Subspecies Elephas maximus sumatranus
        Sumatran Elephant
        The Sumatran Elephant is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian Elephant, and native to Sumatra island of Indonesia. Since 1986, Elephas maximus has been listed as endangered by IUCN as the population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations, estimated to be 60–75 years...
        
        (Sumatran Elephant)
      • Subspecies Elephas maximus borneensis
        Borneo Elephant
        The Borneo Elephant also called the Borneo Pygmy Elephant inhabits northeastern Borneo. Its origin remains the subject of debate. A definitive subspecific classification as Elephas maximus borneensis awaits a detailed range-wide morphometric and genetic study...
        
        (Borneo Elephant or Asian Pygmy Elephant) — proposed but not yet recognized as valid;
      • Subspecies Elephas maximus rubridens
        Chinese elephant
        The Chinese Elephant or the Pink-tusked Elephant is an extinct subspecies of Asian Elephants that once lived in Central and Southern China before the 14th century BC...
        
        (Chinese Elephant) †
        Extinction
        In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
        
        
      • Subspecies Elephas maximus asurus
        Syrian Elephant
        The Syrian elephant is a proposed name for the westernmost population of the Asian Elephant which became extinct in ancient times...
        
        (Syrian Elephant) †
        Extinction
        In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
        
        
    • Species Elephas beyeri †
      Extinction
      In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
      
      
    • Species Elephas celebensis
      Elephas celebensis
      Elephas celebensis or the Sulawesi dwarf elephant is an extinct species of elephant.-Description:The Sulawesi dwarf elephant was about half the size of Archidiskodon planifrons to which it was initially considered to be related by Dirk Albert Hooijer in 1949...
      
      (Sulawesi Dwarf Elephant) †
      Extinction
      In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
      
      
    • Species Elephas hysudricus †
      Extinction
      In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
      
      
    • Species Elephas hysudrindicus
      Javan elephant
      The Javan elephant is an extinct species of the Asian elephant]] found on the island of Java though the Borneo Elephant might be the last surviving members, as they might have been introduced there, saving the species from extinction....
      
      (Javan Elephant) †
      Extinction
      In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
      
      
    • Species Elephas iolensis †
      Extinction
      In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
      
      
    • Species Elephas planifrons †
      Extinction
      In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
      
      
    • Species Elephas platycephalus †
      Extinction
      In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
      
      
    • Species Elephas recki
      Elephas recki
      Elephas recki is an extinct species related to the Asian elephant Elephas maximus. At up to 15 feet in shoulder height, it was one of the largest elephant species to have ever lived. It is believed that E. recki ranged throughout Africa between 3.5 and 1 million years ago. The Asian Elephant is...
      
      †
      Extinction
      In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
      
      
      • Subspecies Elephas recki atavus †
        Extinction
        In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
        
        
      • Subspecies Elephas recki brumpti †
        Extinction
        In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
        
        
      • Subspecies Elephas recki ileretensis †
        Extinction
        In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
        
        
      • Subspecies Elephas recki illertensis †
        Extinction
        In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
        
        
      • Subspecies Elephas recki recki †
        Extinction
        In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
        
        
      • Subspecies Elephas recki shungurensis †
        Extinction
        In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
        
        
    • Subgenus Palaeoloxodon
      Palaeoloxodon
      Palaeoloxodon is an extinct subgenus of elephants, containing the various species of straight-tusked elephant. Its species' remains have been found in Bilzingsleben, Germany; Cyprus; Japan; Sicily; Malta; and recently in England during the excavation of the second Channel Tunnel. The English...
      
      †
      Extinction
      In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
      
      
      • Species Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) antiquus
        Straight-tusked Elephant
        The Straight-tusked Elephant is an extinct species of elephant closely related to the living Asian Elephant. It inhabited Europe during the Middle and Late Pleistocene . Some experts regard the smaller Asian species E...
        
        †
        Extinction
        In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
        
        
      • Species Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) tiliensis †
        Extinction
        In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
        
        
      • Species Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) creutzburgi †
        Extinction
        In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
        
        
      • Species Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) chaniensis †
        Extinction
        In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
        
        
      • Species Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) cypriotes
        Cyprus Dwarf Elephant
        The Cyprus Dwarf Elephant is an extinct species of elephant related to the living Asian Elephant.-Description:Believed to be descended from the Straight-tusked Elephant, this much smaller species inhabited Cyprus and some other Mediterranean islands after the Messinian salinity crisis, during the...
        
        (Cyprus Dwarf Elephant)†
        Extinction
        In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
        
        ;
      • Species Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) ekorensis †
        Extinction
        In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
        
        
      • Species Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) falconeri
        Elephas falconeri
        Elephas falconeri is an extinct Siculo-Maltese species of elephant closely related to the modern Asian elephant...
        
        (Sicilian Dwarf Elephant) †
        Extinction
        In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
        
        
      • Species Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) mnaidriensis
        Elephas mnaidriensis
        Elephas mnaidriensis or Palaeoloxodon mnaidriensis is an extinct species of elephant from Sicily closely related to the modern Asian elephant. This elephant is a separate species with respect to the European mainland straight-tusked elephant and not just a smaller insular form...
        
        †
        Extinction
        In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
        
        
      • Species Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) melitensis †
        Extinction
        In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
        
        
      • Species Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) namadicus
        Elephas namadicus
        Elephas namadicus was a species of prehistoric elephant that ranged throughout Pleistocene Asia, from India to Japan, where the indigenous Neolithic cultures hunted that particular subspecies for food. It is a descendant of the Straight-Tusked Elephant.Some authorities regard it to be a...
        
        †
        Extinction
        In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
        
        
      • Species Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) naumanni (Naumann's Dwarf Elephant) †
        Extinction
        In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...