An endogenous adeno-associated virus element in elephants.

•Endogenous adeno-associated virus elements derived from the rep gene were found in elephants.•The elements (enAAV-rep) encoded a nearly intact open reading frame (ORF) of the rep gene.•enAAV-rep was specifically expressed as mRNA in the liver in Asian elephant.•Purifying selection has operated on the ORF at the amino acid sequence level.•Elephant enAAV-rep may have been co-opted in the liver.