劍棱象是真(zhen)象類最(zui)早的祖先(xian),它可能起(qi)源于非洲某種(zhong)嵌(qian)齒(chi)(chi)(chi)象,后來(lai)分(fen)布到歐洲和亞洲。這(zhe)屬象的臼齒(chi)(chi)(chi)齒(chi)(chi)(chi)冠還(huan)不算高,齒(chi)(chi)(chi)脊(ji)的間距也(ye)還(huan)比較寬,但(dan)齒(chi)(chi)(chi)脊(ji)數目已相當多,第三臼齒(chi)(chi)(chi)可多達七八條齒(chi)(chi)(chi)脊(ji)。出(chu)現的時代相當早,最(zui)早為中(zhong)新世的中(zhong)晚(wan)期(qi)。