Loxodonta exoptata
Loxodonta exoptata Temporal range: Pliocene
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Species: | †L. exoptata
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†Loxodonta exoptata (Dietrich, 1941)
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Loxodonta exoptata is an extinct species of elephant in the genus Loxodonta, from Africa. A 2009 study suggested that Loxodonta exoptata gave rise to L. atlantica, which gave rise to L. africana.[1] The molars of L. exoptata are distinguished from later loxodonts by the lower plate number and their specialized enamel loops.[2] Fossil remains of L. exoptata have been found at Pliocene sites in eastern Africa including Laetoli and Koobi Fora.[2]
References
- ^ The Anatomical Record: Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology Volume 293, Issue 1, Article first published online: 20 NOV 2009: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ar.21010/pdf, retrieved 2 December 2011.
- ^ a b Jon E. Kalb, Assefa Mebrate (1993). Fossil elephantoids from the hominid-bearing Awash Group, Middle Awash Valley, Afar Depression, Ethiopia.