First skull of extinct elephant relative Stegodon found in Cagayan

The first-ever skull of a Stegodon—an extinct relative of modern elephants—was discovered in Solana, Cagayan, with experts believing that the fossil could be from the "teenage" creature that could be slightly taller than an average Filipino. 

The fossil was discovered by a local resident while paleontologists from the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) and the University of Wollongong in New South Wales, Australia conducted a study describing the million-year-old skull. 

"Its features match those of Stegodon from Indonesian islands like Sangihe, Sulawesi, and Flores. This means that these ancient elephants were strong swimmers, able to cross open seas and island-hop, as there were no land bridges connecting these islands," said Meyrick Tablizo of UPD-CS National Institute of Geological Sciences. 

The experts said large animal fossils are much harder to find than small ones. 

"Skulls are large, hollow, and easily broken before or during fossilization, so they almost never make it through thousands to millions of years intact," said Tablizo. "That's why most Stegodon fossils from the Philippines are just isolated teeth or tusk fragments, with occasional bone fragments."

Following the discovery, the study suggests that Luzon may have hosted at least three different forms of Stegodon: a large-bodied type, a smaller "dwarfed" type, and the new intermediate form. 

Tablizo called on the public to contact experts should they come across any fossils. 

"If someone happens to encounter a fossil, the best step is to contact the Nannoworks Laboratory, the Paleontological Society of the Philippines, or the National Museum of the Philippines. This ensures the find is properly studied and preserved, and it might even become a key piece in understanding our natural history," he said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News