New mammutid proboscidean teeth from the Middle Miocene of tropical and southern Africa
Date
2007
Authors
Pickford, Martin
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BERNARD PRICE INSTITUTE FOR PALAEONTOLOGICAL RESEARCH
Abstract
The genus Zygolophodon is widespread but rare in Middle Miocene deposits of Eurasia, and until recently it was not reliably reported
from sub-Saharan Africa. Most previous records of the genus in the latter continent are based on specimens of another proboscidean
Eozygodon morotoensis. In 1985 a tooth from Tunisia was attributed to Zygolophodon and in 2002 four teeth from Egypt were attributed to
the same genus, while in 2005 a fragment of lower third molar was found at Daberas Mine, Orange River, Namibia, and two upper
molars were found in the Ngorora Formation, Tugen Hills, Kenya. The purpose of this note is to describe and interpret the Ngorora
molars. Two newly discovered specimens of Eozygodon morotoensis from Uganda complete the paper.