The fossilization process preserved some specimens well enough to study their gut contents. Rather than feeding on grasses, mastodons browsed on branches, shrubs, and leaves. Because most recovered specimens were American mastodons, it is unknown just how extensive the ranges of the other species were. Researchers believe they never spread into South America because of their specialized dietary preferences. These creatures also ranged as far east as Florida. Archaeologists have found remains as far north as Alaska, and as far south as Mexico. The different mastodon species likely had different ranges, save for the American mastodon, which had a very wide distribution. It’s likely that different species had different habitats based on their preferred diet. They likely lived primarily in forest and woodland habitats, and fed on branches and shrubs. Only the America mastodon has widely distributed fossils to give a better suggestion of habitat choice.īecause of their unique tooth structure, researchers believe that these creatures lived primarily in densely vegetated areas. Researchers have to use some level of speculation when it comes to habitat and distribution. Scientists did not properly identify until they discovered more complete skeletons. A farmer found an immense tooth, weighing five pounds, which they originally believed to be the tooth of a giant. First Discovery – Researchers discovered the very first fossilized evidence of mastodon existence in New York in 1705.This could have potentially exacerbated their downfall. Because of this, scientists believe that early human settlers moving into North America might have exposed mastodons to this illness. Tuberculosis – Studies of mastodon bones have revealed scarring from the bacterial infection tuberculosis.Second, they bore a thick, shaggy coat over their hides, much like the woolly mammoth did. First, they collected fat on a hump over their shoulders, similar to modern-day camels. Humpday – In order to survive the harsh climates of prehistoric North America, these creatures needed a few adaptations.This allowed these creatures to munch on coarse leaves, twigs, stems, and branches. Each tooth had long, cone-shaped cusps that could crush dense vegetation. Chompers – Mastodons had pretty remarkable teeth that were quite different from those of modern-day elephants.Learn more about these unique creatures below. Unlike some prehistoric species, humans actually interacted with mastodons, and likely drove them to extinction. Mastodons were imposingly large creatures, with muscular trunks and long tusks. The males of the species were larger, with thicker and more prominently curved tusks. American mastodons had short legs and stout bodies, and they resembled Asian elephants with longer tusks. However, they were only distantly related to both creatures. Mastodons looked quite similar to modern-day elephants and to their neighbors, the woolly mammoths.
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