The fossil proboscidea (Mammalia) from Bahia State, Brazil: Taxonomy, description, and new locations

Abstract

Fossils of Proboscidea are abundant in Northeastern Brazil. This study presents the identification and description of Proboscidea fossils from eight natural tank deposits in the Bahia state. The specimens were identified based on comparison with available references and by direct analysis of collection specimens. The fossils from the municipalities of Caldeirão Grande, Nordestina, Teofilândia, and Guanambi were identified only at the order level, while the specimens from the municipalities of Santaluz and João Dourado were identified as Notiomastodon platensis. Moreover, five age classes were identified: immature, subadult, adult, mature adult, and senile-adult. The majority of the studied individuals are mature adults. The existing records of Proboscidea from Bahia included a total of 32 localities, and the present study increase in 22% these records.