Mastodon Prehistoric Animals Mastodon Pictures catalog extinct extinction endangered The mastodon, an elephantlike mammal belonging to the order Proboscidea, was widespread from the Miocene through the Pleistocene epochs (26 million to 10 thousand years ago). Mastodons were in the mainline of PROBOSCIDEAN evolution and were probably derived from Moeritherium, which inhabited what is now Egypt in the Early Oligocene. Mastodons first appeared in the Early Oligocene (38 million to 26 million years ago) and were considerably larger than the moeritheres. Phiomia, an Oligocene form, had well-developed tusks, an elephantlike skeleton, and relatively long legs; its skull suggests that it also had a well-developed trunk. Its teeth were typical of all mastodons, consisting of a series of paired conical cusps. When seen in profile, these mound-shaped cusps resemble a woman's breasts; hence the name mastodon was derived from the Greek for breast tooth.<br> <br> Gomphotherium (also called Trilophodon) lived during the Late Miocene and the Early Pliocene (12 million to 3.5 million years ago). It resembled Phiomia, but the teeth were more breastlike and the trunk was more fully developed. Shovel-tusked mastodons such as Amebelodon developed broad, scoop-shaped lower tusks that were useful for digging vegetation. Mastodon americanus, common in North America during the Pleistocene Epoch and perhaps up to a few thousand years ago, was not as tall as modern elephants. Its strongly curved upper tusks were very large, and its body was covered with long, reddish brown hair.

Mastodon

Pre historic animal : Mastodon The mastodon, an elephantlike mammal belonging to the order Proboscidea, was widespread from the Miocene through the Pleistocene epochs (26 million to 10 thousand years ago). Mastodons were in the mainline of PROBOSCIDEAN evolution and were probably derived from Moeritherium, which inhabited what is now Egypt in the Early Oligocene. Mastodons first appeared in the Early Oligocene (38 million to 26 million years ago) and were considerably larger than the moeritheres. Phiomia, an Oligocene form, had well-developed tusks, an elephantlike skeleton, and relatively long legs; its skull suggests that it also had a well-developed trunk. Its teeth were typical of all mastodons, consisting of a series of paired conical cusps. When seen in profile, these mound-shaped cusps resemble a woman's breasts; hence the name mastodon was derived from the Greek for breast tooth.

Gomphotherium (also called Trilophodon) lived during the Late Miocene and the Early Pliocene (12 million to 3.5 million years ago). It resembled Phiomia, but the teeth were more breastlike and the trunk was more fully developed. Shovel-tusked mastodons such as Amebelodon developed broad, scoop-shaped lower tusks that were useful for digging vegetation. Mastodon americanus, common in North America during the Pleistocene Epoch and perhaps up to a few thousand years ago, was not as tall as modern elephants. Its strongly curved upper tusks were very large, and its body was covered with long, reddish brown hair.