Eritreum melakeghebrekristosi

Taxobox
name = "Eritreum melakeghebrekristosi"

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status = fossil
fossil_range = Late Oligocene
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Proboscidea
familia = "incertae sedis"
genus = "Eritreum"
species = "E. melakeghebrekristosi"

"Eritreum melakeghebrekristosi" are an extinct species of elephant, which lived in Northeast Africa during the late Oligocene some 27 million years ago, and are considered to be the missing link between modern elephants and their ancestors. The fossils of this species are the oldest known fossils featuring the horizontal tooth displacement seen in modern elephants. The species is estimated to have weighed 1,067lb and about 4.2ft tall (at the shoulder); much smaller than modern species.

References

* cite news
first = Jeanna
last = Bryner
url = http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/061101_elephant_link.html
title = 'Missing Link' of Elephant Family Unearthed
publisher = LiveScience
date = 2006-09-01
accessdate = 2006-09-14