Muscular headband or sexual display? A practice-oriented case-study for producing scientifically informed palaeoart of Palaeoloxodon namadicus sinhaleyus

Abstract

Sri Lanka (SL) is home to a diverse array of extinct megafauna endemic to the island, many of which are only known from fossils excavated in the early- and mid-Twentieth Century. Palaeoart is a powerful means to influence public awareness about prehistoric life, but there are few visual reconstructions of these species.  This research elucidates the 3D animation design process of a new palaeoart reconstruction of Palaeoloxodon namadicus sinhaleyus. While the fossil record of the gigantic straight-tusked elephant P. namadicus is well-represented within the Indian subcontinent, the only known evidence of a Lankan P. namadicus is a small range of fossils discovered within the Sabaragamuwa Basin. When describing these fossils, palaeontologist P.E.P. Deraniyagala believed they were sufficiently smaller in size to classify as a Lankan subspecies. Deraniyagala was also an artist and rendered the first reconstructions of P. namadicus sinhaleyus. These illustrations convey the general appearance but lack refined details. Of particular note is Deraniyagala’s reconstruction of the parieto-occipital crest (POC), a stand-out feature of Palaeoloxodontinae. Deraniyagala relied on evidence from the forma typica for the POC, which he interpreted as a bony protuberance covered in skin, muscle, and fat. It was hypothesised the POC was a sexual display feature and Deraniyagala’s reconstruction reflects this understanding, remaining the only authoritative reconstruction of P. namadicus sinhaleyus for nearly seventy years. This research details the methods of digital reconstruction used to update the 3D visualisation of P. namadicus sinhaleyus as a slightly smaller version of P. namadicus. Importantly, these illustrations update the POC to reflect the hypothesis that the bony prominence served as a site of dorsal neck muscle attachment to provide support for the massive cranial bulk. Through meaningful scientific and artistic consultation, the extraneous muscular details of Deraniyagala’s reconstruction are reimagined with more harmonious, design-directed form and function.