Mastodon Family: Look Closer and Think.

Often confused with Mammoths, Mastodons (Mammutidae) are in their own family, since They split off from Elephants and Mammoths earlier. Therefore, there are many differences between the two Animals. Mastodons have larger and flatter brows than Mammoths. Moreover, They have paired low conical cusps for teeth, and upper jaw tusks. In addition, Mastodons are shorter and more muscular than Mammoths. Scientists have liken Them to a bus, whereas Mammoths are more like construction cranes.

Living side by side with Mammoths, Mastodons colonized Eurasia and North America about fifteen million years ago. As browsers, They preferred to live in spruce forests and open woodlands. During the winter, Mastodons had a double coat of fur to prevent Them from freezing in the icy cold. However, they preferred warmer climates to live in.

Fossil Mastodons have been found with full stomachs, indicating that They consumed about 500 pounds (1,000 kilos) of food each day. Since their enormous appetites drove Them to seek more and more food, Mastodons roamed the countryside endlessly searching for food. Mastodons tramped through forests to feast on moss and twigs of cedar, larch, pine, and spruce trees. Their hunger drove Them deeper into bogs and swamps in search of food, where They died.

Mastodons teach to look closer and think. Do not mistake Them for their cousins, the Mammoths. Examine the differences before making a judgment. If you do not ponder what you see, you may mindlessly end up stuck in a bog. Take care in what you do.

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Update from a previous 2010 posting

Prehistoric Elephant Family: Partnership

(Deinotheres, Elephants, Mammoths, and Mastodons)

Of the myriad Trunked Mammals who once roamed the earth, only African and Asian Elephants still remain today.  At one time, Proboscids (Trunked Mammals) lived everywhere except Antarctica and Australia.  Spreading from Africa where They originated, these Mammals flourished during the Miocene Period (from 20 million years ago (mya) to 5 mya).  Since many Proboscids were not immune to the cold, only a few survived the Ice Age.

Trunked Mammals have a long complex evolutionary history.  Beginning as small herbivores sixty mya, these Mammals resembled modern Pigmy Hippos.  For example, Moeritherium did look like a small Hippo but possessed a flexible upper lip and snout like an Elephant.  Then a cousin, Deinotherium appeared alongside the Gomphotheres (Early Elephants) about fifteen mya. Many of the Gomphotheres had flat tusks to shovel plants out of soft swampy ground. In addition, They used their trunks to uproot trees.

Mastodons split off from the Elephant Family (which also includes Mammoths). Unlike Mammoths, Mastodons had cheek teeth with low-rounded crowns. Meanwhile, Mammoths had the most highly evolved of elephantine teeth. Because of the grinding surfaces of their teeth, Mammoths could eat grasses whilst Mastodons searched the trees for tender leaves. Mastodons preferred warm climates to the Mammoths’ cold ones.

The Family of Trunked Mammals has been a part of human history from the very beginning.  Both Humans and Proboscids evolved together in Africa.  Later both spread out of Africa to populate the world.  When Paleo-humans needed food and shelter, they hunted Trunked Mammals.  They also built their homes from the bones and hides of various Proboscids. To honor Them, Paleo-peoples painted the likenesses of Mammoths and Mastodons on cave walls.

The infant science of paleontology became advanced through the study of Proboscids’ teeth and bones.  Since Trunked Mammals were widely distributed around the world, early scientists could trace their evolution.  Because Proboscid fossils were plentiful and readily available, early naturalists could learn their craft from these fossils.

Throughout the ages, humans entered into a partnership with various Trunked Mammals.  As each developed, They learned from each other.  Proboscids provided for humans and taught them basic life skills.  In return, Humans honored Them. The lesson of Trunked Mammals is that a partnership is one of equals.  We need to be good partners as They have taught us and protect their living representatives.  Today all that remain are endangered.

Science Note: Manatees, dugongs, and hyraxes are the closest living relatives of elephants. They are descended from Moeritherium.

(Updated from earlier 2010 blog.)

IMPERIAL MAMMOTH: Fight Wisely

The largest Mammoth of all was Imperial Mammoth (Mammuthus imperator).  Living in the warmer climates of North America, She only had a thin covering of hair similar to Modern Elephants.  Her great size meant that She also had a high broad skull and massive lower jaw.

Besides her great size, Imperial Mammoth could be also identified by her long deeply curved tusks, which were the longest tusks of any Elephantid.  She used her tusks to loosen the roots of shrubs for eating.  Moreover by swinging her head, Imperial Mammoth could knock a predator down with these massive tusks.

When Bull Imperial Mammoth became a teenager, the Herd Matriarch kicked Him out.  Roaming the countryside by Himself, He would fight others whom He encountered.  Since He had longer tusks than the Females, Bull Imperial Mammoth could defeat nearly everyone.  Out in the Badlands of Nebraska, two Imperial Mammoth Bulls were found locked in combat.  The two mature Bulls had been unable to separate their twisting tusks, died, and then became fossils.

Imperial Mammoth used her size and tusks to defend Herself.  She also used them to drive out Males from the family herd.  Meanwhile, Bull Imperial Mammoth fought to establish primacy amongst others.  However, there are two sides to combat.  We can choose when and why we fight.  Afterwards, we need to learn to live with the consequences of our actions.  If we choose unwisely, we can end-up like the two fossil Bull Mammoths.

MASTODON FAMILY: Look Closer and Think

Often confused with Mammoths, Mastodons (Mammutidae) are in their own family, since They split off from Elephants and Mammoths earlier.  Therefore, there are many differences between the two Animals.  Mastodons have larger and flatter brows than Mammoths.  Moreover, They have paired low conical cusps for teeth, and upper jaw tusks.  In addition, Mastodons are shorter and more muscular than Mammoths.

            Living side by side with Mammoths, Mastodons colonized Eurasia and North America about fifteen million years ago.  As browsers, They preferred to live in spruce forests and open woodlands.  During the winter, Mastodons had a double coat of fur to prevent Them from freezing in the icy cold.

            Fossil Mastodons have been found with full stomachs, indicating that They consumed about 500 pounds (1,000 kilos) of food each day.  Since their enormous appetites drove Them to seek more and more food, Mastodons roamed the countryside endlessly searching for food.  Mastodons tramped through forests to feast on moss and twigs of cedar, larch, pine, and spruce trees.  Their hunger drove Them deeper into bogs and swamps in search of food, where They died.             

Look closer and think teach Mastodons.  Do not mistake Them for their cousins, the Mammoths.  Examine the differences before making a judgment.  If you do not ponder what you see, you may end up stuck in a bog.

EARLY ELEPHANTS AND ALLIES (TRUNKED MAMMALS): Partnership

Gomphotherium

(Deinotheres, Elephants, Mammoths, and Mastodons)

Of the myriad Trunked Mammals who once roamed the earth, only African and Asian Elephants still remain today.  At one time, Proboscids (Trunked Mammals) lived everywhere except Antarctica and Australia.  Spreading from Africa where They originated, these Mammals flourished during the Miocene Period (from 20 million years ago (mya) to 5 mya).  Since many Proboscids were not immune to the cold, only a few survived the Ice Age.

            Trunked Mammals have a long complex evolutionary history.  Beginning as small herbivores sixty mya, these Mammals resembled modern Pigmy Hippos.  For example, Moeritherium did look like a small Hippo but possessed a flexible upper lip and snout like an Elephant.  Later a cousin, Deinotherium appeared alongside the Gomphotheres (Early Elephants) about fifteen mya. Many of the Gomphotheres had flat tusks to shovel plants out of soft swampy ground.  In addition, They used their trunks to uproot trees. 

            Later, Mastodons split off from the Elephant Family (which also includes Mammoths).  Unlike Mammoths, Mastodons had cheek teeth with low-rounded crowns.  Meanwhile, Mammoths had the most highly evolved of elephantine teeth.  Because of the grinding surfaces of their teeth, Mammoths could eat grasses whilst Mastodons searched the trees for tender leaves.

            The Family of Trunked Mammals has been a part of human history from the very beginning.  Both Humans and Proboscids evolved together in Africa.  Later both spread out of Africa to populate the world.  When Paleo-humans needed food and shelter, they hunted Trunked Mammals.  They also built their homes from the bones and hides of various Proboscids. To honor Them, Paleo-peoples painted the likenesses of Mammoths and Mastodons on cave walls. 

            The infant science of paleontology became advanced through the study of Proboscids’ teeth and bones.  Since Trunked Mammals were widely distributed around the world, early scientists could trace their evolution.  Because Proboscid fossils were plentiful and readily available, early naturalists could learn their craft from these fossils.

            Throughout the ages, humans entered into a partnership with various Trunked Mammals.  As each developed, They learned from each other.  Proboscids provided for humans and taught them basic life skills.  In return, Humans honored Them. The lesson of Trunked Mammals is that a partnership is one of equals.  We need to be good partners as They have taught us and protect their living representatives.