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A proboscidean from the late Oligocene of Eritrea, a "missing link" between early Elephantiformes and
Jeheskel Shoshani1, Robert C Walter, Michael Abraha
1Department of Biology, University of Asmara, PO Box 1220, Asmara, Eritrea. jshosh@sun.science.wayne.edu
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.
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