A proboscidean from the late Oligocene of Eritrea, a "missing link" between early Elephantiformes and Elephantimorpha, and biogeographic implications.
We report on a late Oligocene proboscidean species from Eritrea, dated to 26.8 +/- 1.5 Mya. This "missing link" between early elephantiformes and Elephantimorpha is the oldest known nongomphothere proboscidean to probably display horizontal tooth displacement, typical of elephants [Elephantimorpha consists of Mammutida (mastodons) and Elephantida, and Elephantida includes gomphotheres, stegodons, and elephants]. Together with the newly discovered late Oligocene gomphotheres from Chilga, Ethiopia, the Eritrean taxon points to the importance of East Africa as a major area for the knowledge of the early evolution of Elephantimorpha before the faunal exchange between Eurasia and Africa.
Shoshani
Jeheskel
J
Department of Biology, University of Asmara, PO Box 1220, Asmara, Eritrea. jshosh@sun.science.wayne.edu
Walter
Robert C
RC
Abraha
Michael
M
Berhe
Seife
S
Tassy
Pascal
P
Sanders
William J
WJ
Marchant
Gary H
GH
Libsekal
Yosief
Y
Ghirmai
Tesfalidet
T
Zinner
Dietmar
D
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004606:Elephants / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D019017:Eritrea; D005580:Fossils; D007568:Jaw / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013997:Time Factors