Elephas maximus

Linnaeus, 1758

Asian Elephant

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Placentalia
Magnorder : Atlantogenata
Superorder : Afrotheria
Order : Proboscidea
Family : Elephantidae
Genus : Elephas

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Linnaeus, C. 1758-01-01. Systema Naturæ per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio Decima, Reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm, 823 pp.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25033825

Original name as described

Elephas maximus

Other common names

Pygmy Elephant

Type material

MF 734

Type kind

lectotype

Type locality

Sri Lanka.

Biogeographic realm

Indomalaya

Country distribution

India · Sri Lanka · Nepal · Bhutan · Bangladesh · China · Myanmar · Laos · Cambodia · Vietnam · Thailand · Malaysia · Indonesia

IUCN Red List status

Endangered

Species Permalink

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1000521

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details. If the list is long, scroll down to see more.

Elephas maximus sinhaleyus

Deraniyagala, 1939

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

sinhaleyus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH (number not known)

Type kind

syntypes

Authority page

130

Authority publication

Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society

Elephas maximus borneensis

Deraniyagala, 1950

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

borneensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1908.7.9.3

Type kind

lectotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/8e0fa37d-e4ab-4165-ac55-9edef3d9b1c8

Authority page

10

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Ceylon Association of Sciences

Name usages

Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)

Elephas maximus hirsutus

Lydekker, 1914

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

hirsutus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

BMNH:Mamm:1914.2.16.1

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/bba06081-6396-4f14-b298-8885dda9264d

Authority page

20

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/31626162

Authority publication

Abstracts of the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)

Elephas maximus vilaliya

Deraniyagala, 1939

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

vilaliya

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

CNM 85. D. 1937

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

130

Authority publication

Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society

Name usages

Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)

Elephas maximus

Linnaeus, 1758

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

maximus

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MF 734

Type kind

lectotype

Authority page

33

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25033825

Authority publication

Stockholm

Name usages

  1. Erxleben (1777:203, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15873000) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36060)
  2. Daudin (1802:177, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42033427) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/64044)
  3. Ward (1910:476, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15016119) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39628)
  4. Corbet & Hill (1980:114) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  5. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:307) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  6. Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)
  7. O'Brien, Menninger & Nash (2006:76) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/7321)
  8. Smith & Xie (2008:156) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/64149)
  9. Wilson & Mittermeier (2011:78) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67176)
  10. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #7140) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  11. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #7140) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  12. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1000521) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  13. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/7140/45818198) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Elephas indicus Buski

Matsumoto, 1927

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

buski

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

TUM 7266

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

57

Authority publication

Science Reports of the Tohoku Imperial University

Elephas maximus sumatrensis

J. R. Ward, 1910

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

sumatrensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

477

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15016120

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Ward (1910:477, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15016120) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39628)

Elephas maximus indicus

Shoshani, 2005

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

indicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)
  2. Wilson & Mittermeier (2011:78) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67176)

Elephas maximus maximus

Shoshani, 2005

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

maximus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)
  2. Wilson & Mittermeier (2011:78) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67176)

Elephas maximus sumatranus

Shoshani, 2005

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

sumatranus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)
  2. Wilson & Mittermeier (2011:78) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67176)

Elephas asiaticus

Blumenbach, 1797

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

asiaticus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

124

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/44308437

Authority publication

Göttingen

Name usages

Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)

Elephas indicus

G. Cuvier, 1797

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

indicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

148

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11637230

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Cuvier (1797:148, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11637230) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38531)
  2. Fischer (1814:xiii, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130074) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/12226)
  3. Lesson (1827:321, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207788) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
  4. Jardine (1836:106, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/18064350) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39772)
  5. Cuvier (1842:4, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/44518527) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60227)
  6. Smith (1842:270) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67141)
  7. Lesson (1842:156) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  8. Layard (1851:405, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13788005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67277)
  9. Kelaart (1852:158, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/59278678) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67270)
  10. Kelaart (1852:77, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/52257353) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38608)
  11. Blyth (1863:134, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47534815) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37155)
  12. Kelaart (1890:320) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/60533)

Elephas gigas

Perry, 1811

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

gigas

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

unnumbered (signature Ii1)

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)

Elephas Socotrus

Perry, 1811

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

socotrus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

unnumbered (signature Ii1)

Authority publication

London

Elephas Indicus Heterodactylus

Hodgson, 1841

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

heterodactylus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_nudum

Authority page

215

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/37126979

Authority publication

Calcutta Journal of Natural History

Name usages

Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)

Elephas Indicus Isodactylus

Hodgson, 1841

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

isodactylus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_nudum

Authority page

215

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/37126979

Authority publication

Calcutta Journal of Natural History

Name usages

Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)

Elephas indicus bengalensis

de Blainville, 1845

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

bengalensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)

Elephas indicus ceylanicus

de Blainville, 1845

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

ceylanicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)

Elephas indicus Dauntela

Falconer & Cautley, 1847

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

dauntela

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority publication

Fauna Antiqua Sivalensis

Name usages

Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)

Elephas indicus Mukna

Falconer & Cautley, 1847

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

mukna

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority publication

Fauna Antiqua Sivalensis

Name usages

Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)

Elephas Sumatranus

Temminck, 1847

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

sumatranus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

91

Authority publication

Leiden

Elephas maximus zeylanicus

Lydekker, 1907

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

zeylanicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

15

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16068005

Authority publication

London

Name usages

  1. Ward (1910:477, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15016120) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/39628)
  2. Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)

Elephas maximus asurus

Deraniyagala, 1950

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

asurus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

11

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Ceylon Association of Sciences

Name usages

Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)

Elephas maximus dakhunensis

Deraniyagala, 1950

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

dakhunensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

1-18

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Ceylon Association of Sciences

Name usages

Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)

Elephas maximus persicus

Deraniyagala, 1950

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

persicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

10

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Ceylon Association of Sciences

Name usages

Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)

Elephas maximus rubridens

Deraniyagala, 1950

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

rubridens

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

10

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Ceylon Association of Sciences

Name usages

Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)

Elephas maximus sondaicus

Deraniyagala, 1950

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

sondaicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

10

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Ceylon Association of Sciences

Name usages

Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)

Elephas maximus birmanicus

Deraniyagala, 1951

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

birmanicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

49

Authority publication

Spolia Zeylanica

Name usages

Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)

Elephas maximus ruber

Deraniyagala, 1951

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

ruber

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

51

Authority publication

Spolia Zeylanica

Name usages

Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)

Elephas maximus sichiaoshanensis

Wang Jiangke, 1978

Family

Elephantidae

Root name

sichiaoshanensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

123

Authority publication

Vertebrata PalAsiatica

Name usages

Shoshani (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/9716)

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