Maltese pygmy elephant cast of tusk

At just 90cm tall Maltese pygmy elephants are the smallest elephants ever discovered. Signor Buttegieg found the first tooth during building work at his home. This prompted Captain Spratt to investigate. The sediment-filled cavern contained many elephant teeth as well as remains of giant dormice, giant swan and giant tortoise. All these species are now extinct. This discovery was so important Spratt sent casts of the elephant bones to museums including RAMM.

Object Summary

Accession Loan No.
Fos5846
Collection Class
Fossils
Collection Area Region
Southern Europe
Collector Excavator
Spratt, Captain
Material
Plaster | Paint | | |
Common Name
Maltese pygmy elephant cast of tusk
Simple Name
fossil: cast
Period Classification
Victorian (1837-1901)
Production Town
London
Production Country
United Kingdom: England
Production Person Initials
Production Person Surname
British Museum, Natural History
Production Year Low
1860
Production Year High
1878

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ELEPHANTIDAE: Elephas melitensis Falconer, 1868: Maltese pygmy elephant