The Dwarf Sicilian Elephant (Palaeoloxodon falconeri, formerly Elephas falconeri) is a mid-sized prehistoric European mammal. It is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon 2.
Description[]
The Dwarf Sicilian elephant is a member of the genus Palaeoloxodon, or Straight-Tusked Elephants, which were native to Africa and Eurasia. Elephants of this genus could be identified by their tusks, which had little curvature and were quite large for the size of the body. Although most straight-tusked elephants shared similar body-shapes, Palaeoloxodon falconeri was one of eight species known as dwarf elephants and as a result were quite small, reaching heights of only 96.5cm (3.2ft) and weighing 305kg (672lbs). This makes it the smallest known species of elephant. Males were larger than females.
All dwarf elephants were native to islands in the Mediterranean, with Palaeoloxodon falconeri fossils being found on Sicily and Malta. This is an example of "insular dwarfism", where large animals gradually grow smaller whilst confined to a small environment, such as islands. It is possible that the elephant's ancestors reached the islands from North Africa or Europe during the Pleistocene, before being cut off from the mainland by rising sea waters. The closest living relative of the dwarf elephants is believed to be the African Forest Elephant.
Zoo Tycoon 2[]
The Dwarf Sicilian elephant is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon 2 and was added as part of the Extinct Animals expansion pack. In Campaign and Challenge mode, it is available for adoption when a zoo reaches a rating of 3 stars.
The Dwarf Sicilian elephant is a Grassland animal, but can also tolerate Alpine. Like all extinct grassland animals, it requires a misty spring in its exhibit in order to be fully comfortable. It uses similar food and enrichment items to the modern elephant species, with a smaller variation of the elephant log that is unique to it.
 zootycoon.com Description
|
|---|
| While many extinct creatures of the Pleistocene Period were extremely large versions of animals living today, some, like the dwarf Sicilian elephant, were much smaller than their modern counterparts. This tiny island pachyderm probably evolved from a much larger elephant. Like some other ancient animals, it underwent a process called “insular dwarfism”: Animals isolated on islands can become smaller over many generations, if a lack of predators makes it unnecessary to maintain a large size and smallness is an advantage where food is not abundant. A full-grown dwarf Sicilian elephant probably weighed about the same as a newborn Asian elephant. |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Dwarf Sicilian Elephants are one of 2 medium prey animals where young occupy the same size group as adults, with the other being the Dodo.
- Unusually, the dwarf Sicilian elephant prefers the Boreal Forest and Temperate Forest biomes (rating of +5 each) more than its primary biome of Grassland (rating of +3). This is the only animal with this oddity.
- Additionally, it is also the only animal to give those biomes a rating of +5.
- At the time of the game's release, the dwarf Sicilian elephant was part of the Elephas genus (the same genus as the Asian Elephant). It was later found to be part of the genus Palaeoloxodon, which contained the much larger straight-tusked elephant.