A proboscidean from the late Oligocene of Eritrea, a "missing link" between early Elephantiformes and Elephantimorpha, and biogeographic implications (original) (raw)
NASA/ADS
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- Walter, Robert C. ;
- Abraha, Michael ;
- Berhe, Seife ;
- Tassy, Pascal ;
- Sanders, William J. ;
- Marchant, Gary H. ;
- Libsekal, Yosief ;
- Ghirmai, Tesfalidet ;
- Zinner, Dietmar
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.
Publication:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
Pub Date:
November 2006
DOI:
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