title: A proboscidean from the late Oligocene of Eritrea, a "missing link" between early Elephantiformes and Elephantimorpha, and biogeographic implications.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Asmara, PO Box 1220, Asmara, Eritrea. jshosh@sun.science.wayne.edu
authors.forename: Jeheskel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shoshani
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abraha
authors.forename: Seife
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berhe
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tassy
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: Gary H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Marchant
authors.forename: Yosief
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Libsekal
authors.forename: Tesfalidet
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ghirmai
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zinner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004606:Elephants / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D019017:Eritrea; D005580:Fossils; D007568:Jaw / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013997:Time Factors