Moeritherium ancient elephant ancestor, illustration. This extinct prehistoric mammal was an early proboscidean, related to modern elephants and mammoths. It lived during the Late Eocene (38 to 34 million years ago). It resembled tapirs or small hippopotamuses, reaching a shoulder height of 70 centimetres and weighing over 230 kilograms. It is thought they were semi-aquatic, feeding on vegetation. Moeritherium fossils were found in North Africa.