1904] On the Remains of Elephas Cypriotes, Bate. 121 



Dr. Leith Adams gives E. melitensis as follows : 



3 5 89 89 10 12 

 3 ' 5 ' 89 ' 89 ' TO ' 12 ' 



There appears to be a strong resemblance between the teeth of 

 E. Cypriotes and those of the Maltese and Sicilian pigmy forms, more 

 especially E. melitensis, but the marked lateral compression of the tusks 

 in E. Cypriotes, which is a constant character in all the specimens so far 

 obtained, would in itself be almost sufficient, to distinguish this species 

 from the other pigmy elephants of the Mediterranean region. There 

 seems to be good evidence that E. Cypriotes was isolated and sub- 

 sequently differentiated at an earlier period than the other small 

 Mediterranean species in Malta and Sicily, the zoological evidence 

 giving considerable support to the belief that Cyprus became an island 

 at an earlier period, an idea which is further strengthened by the fact 

 that the whole island is surrounded by deep water, and is not connected 

 with the neighbouring lands by submerged banks as is the case with 

 the Maltese Islands. 



The Maltese pigmy species have been considered most closely allied 

 to E. antiquus and E. Africanus. On the other hand it seems probable 

 that E. Cypriotes, which shows no affinity to the African species, is 

 rather connected with E. antiquus and E. meridionalis. 



It may be remarked that the remains of E. Cypriotes and of Hippo- 

 potamus minutus, with which it is associated, vary but little in size, 

 whereas in the dwarf species of elephants and hippopotami from Malta 

 and Sicily a considerable variation in size is observable, so much so 

 indeed that molars may be seen intermediate in size connecting 

 H. melitensis ( = minutus), H. pentlandi and H. amphibius. 



