Description: The mastodon is an extinct genus of large mammals belonging to the family Mammutidae, considered distant relatives of modern elephants. These animals, which lived from the Miocene to the Pleistocene, were characterized by their robust bodies, curved tusks, and dense fur that helped them adapt to cold climates. Unlike mammoths, mastodons had teeth with a more primitive structure, adapted for grinding leaves and branches, suggesting that their diet was predominantly herbivorous. Their size varied, but some individuals could reach up to 3 meters in height. Mastodons inhabited various regions of North America and parts of Asia, and their extinction is attributed to a combination of climate change and hunting by prehistoric humans. Their study is crucial for understanding the evolution of proboscideans and the dynamics of the ecosystems they lived in, as well as for investigating the interactions between humans and megafauna in the past.
History: Mastodons appeared around 30 million years ago and diversified into several species throughout their existence. The oldest fossil has been found in North America, indicating that this continent was an important habitat for them. During the Pleistocene, they coexisted with humans, who likely contributed to their extinction through hunting. The extinction of mastodons is estimated to have occurred about 10,000 years ago, coinciding with the end of the last glaciation.
