Elephants were ocean dwellers until they moved on to land several million years ago, research suggests. Previous studies indicating that modern elephants evolved from an aquatic mammal have concentrated on fossil records or the molecular and biochemical make-up of elephants. But a PhD student at Melbourne University, Ms Ann Gaeth, has studied elephant embryos and found a number of features that suggest elephants were once underwater dwellers. Ms Gaeth's studies found the trunk was well developed in elephant foetuses as young as 100 days. 'The trunk might first have evolved as an adaptation to an aquatic environment,'' Ms Gaeth said. 'For example, it could have been used as a snorkel as it is to this day when elephants swim in deep water.''