The biogeography of the gomphotheriid proboscideans of North America

• Main Author: Lambert, W David
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University PressOxford 1996
• Subjects: Antarc*; Antarctica; Beringia
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198546528.003.0016; https://academic.oup.com/book/chapter-pdf/52373657/isbn-9780198546528-book-part-16.pdf

Abstract The gomphothere proboscideans sensu Iato, consisting of the Gomphotheriidae including Amebelodontinae were arguably the most successful of all the proboscideans in terms of their longevity and geographical distribution. They lasted at least from the earliest Miocene to the end of the Pleistocene and reached all continents except the island continents Antarctica and Australia (Tobien 1973a). North America played a significant role in the history of gomphothere biogeography and diversity (Lambert and Shoshani, in press). From the middle Miocene to the Pleistocene, North America received numerous immigrant taxa from the Old World via Beringia (and possibly the converse as well). It was also a centre for major autochthonous evolution and was the staging ground for the dispersal of gomphotheres into South America.