On the Stylohyoid Bone of Naumann's Elephant (Elephas naumanni MAKIYAMA) from Lake Nojiri

Abstract

The find of the hyoid bone in fossil state has been very rarely reported hitherto. Recently, a part of Proboscidean hyoid bone was unearthed from the bottom sediments at Lake Nojiri, central Japan. That is identified as the stylohyoid bone of Naumann's elephant (Elephas naumanni MAKIYAMA) which is commonly known from the Late Pleistocene deposits in Japan. Comparing the present specimen with the hyoid bones of Asiatic, African and fossil elephants, it is distinguishable in having some peculiar characteristics, viz. the presence of the angulus of the posterior ramus etc..