铲齿象

铲齿象（学名：Platybelodon）是一种大型食草哺乳动物。它生存于中新世，约1500万-1000万年前，范围包括非洲、欧洲、亚洲和北美。虽然当时它数量众多，但是在中新世灭绝。

古生态学

铲齿象以前被认为生活在草原的沼泽地区，用其牙齿铲水生植被和半水生植被。不过，牙齿磨损图案表明，它利用其下面的暴牙剥去树皮，并可能使用了尖锐的门牙形成“铲”的边缘，就像一个现代的镰刀，抓住树枝并用下齿将其从树上切断。Lambert, W.D. (1992). "The feeding habits of the shovel-tusked gomphotheres: evidence from tusk wear patterns." Paleobiology, 18(2): 132-147.
铲齿象与同为嵌齿象科的板齿象（Amebelodon）很相似。

参考资料

Barry Cox, Colin Harrison, R.J.G. Savage, and Brian Gardiner. (1999): The Simon & Schuster Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Creatures: A Visual Who's Who of Prehistoric Life. Simon & Schuster.
Jordi Agusti and Mauricio Anton. (2002): Mammoths, Sabertooths, and Hominids. Pg.90, Columbia University Press.
Jayne Parsons.(2001): Dinosaur Encyclopedia. Pg.260, Dorling Kindersley.
David Norman. (2001): The Big Book Of Dinosaurs. Pg.420-421, Welcome Books.
Hazel Richardson.(2003): Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Animals (Smithsonian Handbooks). Pg.173, Dorling Kindersley.

C
C
C