Scientists have found out why African elephants were born without tusks
Scientists from Princeton University have found out why African elephants were born without tusks. Biologists have studied what genetic mechanism is behind the loss process. An article about this was published in the journal Science. Rapid evolutionary change began to occur in 1977-1992, when there was intense poaching for ivory. At this time, there was a civil war in Mozambique. During the military conflict, both sides depended on the sale of the extracted bones, since money was needed for the fighting.
And that reduced the elephant population by about 90%. It is because of the rampant destruction of animals, according to the researchers, that many females of modern elephants do not have tusks from birth, as this increased their chances of surviving in the past.
The experts also examined the elephant genome. Thanks to this, it was possible to identify several genes that may be responsible for this, including the AMELX gene. By the way, in humans, this gene is associated with the suppression of the growth of the lateral incisors, which correspond to elephant tusks.
Earlier, zoologists from the University of Turku (Finland) found out how the presence of siblings affects elephants. The researchers argue that raising a large family significantly increases the survival rate of individuals in the long term. It turned out that the siblings of Asian elephants have a direct impact on the younger generation. Moreover, this lasts until the very late age. It is the older sisters who have a significant effect.
But scientists from the University of Lisbon on the beach of the resort town of Matalascanias in Spain discovered the traces of ancient elephants. During the analysis, it was possible to establish that they belong to the elephants of the extinct species Palaeoloxodon antiquus, who lived in these territories 129-117 thousand years ago. Among the footprints of the elephants were also the prints of the limbs of adult elephants. Scientists believe that this place could have been a kind of “kindergarten”, where females raised their offspring.
