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Earliest known proboscidean from early Eocene of north-west Africa

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Abstract

The earliest known proboscidean remains have now been found at a new early Eocene locality at Brezina in southern Algeria (El Kohol). These new finds, represented by complete skulls and postcranial material, show several unexpected derived characters shared with the modern representatives of the Elephantoidea and the Deinotheriidae, suggesting close phylo-genetic affinities and demonstrating also the great antiquity of the differentiation of modern proboscideans in Africa. These remains have been dated by associated charophyte flora and vertebrate remains which constitute the oldest known vertebrate community from the African Eocene.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ONRS–CERD, Département de Géologie, Université d'Oran, BP16, Oran-Es Sénia, Algeria

    M. Mahboubi & R. Ameur

  2. LA 327, CNRS Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, Université des Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc (Montpellier II), place Eugène Bataillon, 34060, Montpellier-Cédex, France

    J. Y. Crochett

  3. ERA 963, CNRS Laboratoire de Paléontologie des Vertébrés et de Paléontologie Humaine, tour 25–15, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris VI), 4 place Jussieu, 75230, Paris-Cédex, France

    J. J. Jaeger

Authors
  1. M. Mahboubi
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  2. R. Ameur
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  3. J. Y. Crochett
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  4. J. J. Jaeger
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Mahboubi, M., Ameur, R., Crochett, J. et al. Earliest known proboscidean from early Eocene of north-west Africa. Nature 308, 543–544 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/308543a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/308543a0

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