Taxonomic Diversity and Morphological Variability of Proboscidea from the Early Miocene

Proboscideans (Afrotheria, Paenungulata) have been found in Early Miocene layers of Portugal. The oldest specimens of proboscideans in Portugal have been found in the Targus Basin. The Museo Geológico in Lisbon, Portugal, houses teeth of Early to Middle Miocene proboscideans from the Lisbon area. These remains have been ascribed to the genera: Deinotherium, Serridentinus, Trilophodon, and Zygolophodon. Serridentinus and Trilophodon are recognised as synonym for Gomphotherium. However, specimens in Portugal ascribed to Zygolophodon are most likely misinterpreted and instead belong to Gomphotherium. The current consensus is that Gomphotherium and Deinotherium are the only two genera present in the Early Miocene of Portugal. They migrated to the Iberian Peninsula from France in two separate events. Dinotherium reached Portugal later than Gomphotherium, most likely due to a change in the vegetation following the Miocene Climatic Optimum. Platybelodon may also have been present in Portugal at this time. Here, we study the Early Miocene proboscidean teeth from the Museo Geológico in Lisbon. We analysed and compared the teeth morphometrically to deduce the taxonomic diversity and morphological variability. These results can further be related to the environmental conditions and the diet of proboscideans in the Early Miocene of Portugal.