Paleontologists from the New York State Museum and New York University Orange, New York, unearthed the fossilized remains of an adult mastodon near Scotchtown, New York, USA.
A fossilized adult mastodon jaw discovered near Scotchtown, New York, USA. Image credit: New York State Museum.
mastodon any species of extinct proboscis in the genus mammut.
Although often confused with mammoths, they are more distantly related to living elephants.
These animals diverged from their elephant ancestors about 27-25 million years ago (Oligocene epoch).
They roamed widely throughout North America as well as surrounding areas such as the tropics of Honduras and the Arctic coast of Alaska until they finally became extinct about 11,000 years ago.
Currently, eight species are recognized, including the famous American mastodon (mammut americanum), widely distributed in nearly every state in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
A well-preserved jaw, part of a toe bone, and rib fragments from an adult mastodon were discovered in the backyard of a home near Scotchtown in Orange County, New York.
The fossils were recovered by a team of paleontologists from the New York State Museum and the State University of New York at Orange.
“The jaw of an adult mastodon was discovered protruding from the topsoil, drawing the attention of homeowners and sparking research that will continue to uncover scientific insights for years to come,” they said. Ta.
“The discovery began when the homeowner found two teeth hidden in the leaves of a plant on the property.”
“Upon further investigation, the homeowner unearthed two more teeth just a few inches underground.”
“This important discovery will deepen our understanding of the region's Ice Age inhabitants and highlight the wealth of prehistoric wonders yet to be discovered.”
This figure shows the reconstruction of the American mastodon (mammut americanum) top. Below is a comparison between an American mastodon and a woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius). Image credit: © George 'Rinaldino' Taichmann.
“When we found the tooth and held it in our hands to examine it, we knew it was something special and decided to call in the experts,” said the resident, who had a prehistoric treasure guarded in his backyard.
“We are thrilled that our property has led to such important discoveries for the scientific community.”
“Although the jaw is the star, additional fragments of toes and ribs provide valuable context and potential for further study,” said researcher Corey Harris-Chair, Ph.D., of the State University of New York at Orange. Ta.
“We also want to further investigate the nearby area to see if there are any more preserved bones.”
More than 150 mastodon fossils have been discovered across the state, about one-third of them in Orange County, an area that remains home to ancient relatives of modern elephants. is a major hotspot.
“This discovery is evidence of New York's rich paleontological history and our continued efforts to understand its past,” said Robert Ferra, Director of Research and Collections and Curator of Ice Age Animals at the New York State Museum. Dr. Neck said.
“This mastodon jaw provides a unique opportunity to study the ecology of this amazing species and will improve our understanding of the region's ice age ecosystems.”
“Fossils are a resource that provide remarkable snapshots of the past, allowing us to reconstruct ancient ecosystems as well as gain better context and understanding of the world around us today.”
“With each discovery like this, we move one step closer to understanding the full story of New York.”
Source: www.sci.news
