The Mumakils from the Lord of the Rings were based on Stegotetrabelodon (or at least the tusk configuration). However, a recent study of fragmentary remains of the Asian straight tusked elephant indicated that it could have been 17 feet tall at the shoulder and weighed 24 tons (4x the size of an African Elephant) making it the largest land mammal that ever lived. After this revelation, paleontology enthusiasts were comparing it to the mumakil from the lord of the rings because of its' immense size.
Interestingly enough, while Stegotetrabelodon died out right when our ancestors started walking upright, the Asian Straight Tusked Elephant lived on the Indian subcontinent until 24,000 years ago meaning that the ancestors of Indians lived with this animal for a long time. If there was an unknown prehistoric civilization on the subcontinent, maybe they domesticated them and used them as war elephants O_O
Hannibal wouldn't have shit on them. FYI mammoths are SOOOOOOO overrated.
Stegotetrabelodon
Palaeoloxodon
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Which extinct elephant reminds you most of the mumakil from LOTR, Palaeloxodon namadicus or Stegotetrabelodon?
I'm just happy to see a LOTR related question. Did you know most of the Rohirrim were played by women wearing fake beards since they couldn't find many equestrian men?
And I think it's a mixture of the two, considering it has both the extra bottom tusks and wide, rounded top tusks.
