Subspecies
M. Beden identified five subspecies of Elephas recki, from oldest to youngest:
- Elephas recki brumpti Beden, 1980
- Elephas recki shungurensis Beden, 1980
- Elephas recki atavus Arambourg, 1947
- Elephas recki ileretensis Beden, 1987
- Elephas recki recki (Dietrich, 1916)
New research indicates that the ranges for all five subspecies overlap, and that they are not separated in time as previously proposed. The research also found a wide range of morphological variation, both between the supposed subspecies and between different specimens previously identified as belonging to the same subspecies. The degree of temporal and geographical overlap, along with the morphological variation in P. recki suggests that the relationships between any subspecies are more complicated than previously indicated.
Read more about this topic: Elephas Recki