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 Hadar, Laetoli and Koobi Fora.[2]

Loxodonta exoptata
Temporal range: Pliocene
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Proboscidea
Family: Elephantidae
Genus: Loxodonta
Species:
L. exoptata
Binomial name
Loxodonta exoptata
(Dietrich, 1941)

References edit

  1. ^ The Anatomical Record: Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology Volume 293, Issue 1, Article first published online: 20 November 2009: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ar.21010/pdf, retrieved 2 December 2011.
  2. ^ a b Jon E. Kalb, Assefa Mebrate (1993). Fossil elephantoids from the hominid-bearing Awash Group, Middle Awash Valley, Afar Depression, Ethiopia.